Write-once read-many information recording medium, information recording method, information reproduction method, information recording apparatus, and information reproduction apparatus

ABSTRACT

A write-once read-many information recording medium is provided, which is capable of easily searching for a latest DDS and a latest defect list. At least one disc management working area is sequentially allocated in a predetermined direction on the write-once read-many information recording medium of the present invention. The latest defect list and the latest DDS are provided in a recorded disc management working area neighboring a border between the recorded disc management working area and an unrecorded disc management working area, where the latest defect list precedes the latest DDS in the predetermined direction.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a write-once read-many informationrecording medium, an information recording method for recordinginformation onto the write-once read-many information recording medium,an information reproduction method for reproducing information from thewrite-once read-many information recording medium, an informationrecording apparatus for recording information onto the write-onceread-many information recording medium, and an information reproductionapparatus for reproducing information from the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, large-capacity exchangeable information recording media, anddisc drive apparatuses which handle large-capacity exchangeableinformation recording media, are widely used. As large-capacityexchangeable information recording media, optical discs (e.g., DVDs,etc.) are well known.

In optical disc drive apparatuses, information is recorded onto anoptical disc by forming small pits thereon using laser light. Therefore,optical disc drive apparatuses are capable of recording large-capacityexchangeable information. Optical discs have a disadvantage ofexchangeable information recording media that the recording surface islikely to suffer from defects, such as dust, scratches, or the like.

To cope with this problem, optical disc drive apparatuses have toperform defect management in order to secure the reliability of recordedor reproduced data.

In a conventional defect management technique, two defect managementareas (DMA) are allocated at predetermined positions in each of theinner and outer peripheries of a rewritable optical disc (i.e., a totalof four DMAs are provided). If defect management information is updated,new defect management information is rewritten into these defectmanagement areas (e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 5-006626).

FIG. 23 shows the data structure of a conventional rewritable opticaldisc 400.

A data area 5 contains a user data area 16 for recording/reproducinguser data, and a spare area 17 for providing a block (hereinafter alsoreferred to as “replacement block”) which replaces a defect blockpresent in the user data area 16. The spare area 17 is provided inadvance.

A lead-in area 4 and a lead-out area 6 each contain defect managementareas for recording information about a defect block present in the dataarea 5. The lead-in area 4 contains a first defect management area 10(hereinafter also referred to as “DMA1”) and a second defect managementarea 11 (hereinafter also referred to as “DMA2”). The lead-out area 6contains a third defect management area 12 (hereinafter also referred toas “DMA3”) and a fourth defect management area 13 (hereinafter alsoreferred to as “DMA4”).

Each of the DMA1 to the DMA4 has a predetermined position and a fixedlength. Management information provided in each of the DMA1 to the DMA4has a length which varies depending on the number of defect blocks,i.e., a variable length. Note that all of the DMA1 to the DMA4 have thesame information, i.e., a multiple of pieces of the same information arestored on a disc. This is because defects may occur in the DMA1 to theDMA4 themselves. For example, if information cannot be reproduced from aDMA but information can be reproduced from any one of the DMA1 to theDMA4, the defect management information can be obtained.

The DMA1 to the DMA4 each contain a disc definition structure(hereinafter also referred to as “DDS”) 14 and a defect list(hereinafter also referred to as “DFL”) 15, where the DDS 14 precedesthe DFL 15.

The DFL 15 contains a defect list header 32 and M defect entries 33 (M:an integer of 0 or more).

The defect list header 32 contains the number of the defect entries 33contained in a DFL 15 and the like. The defect list header 32 is locatedat a predetermined position in the DFL 15 (e.g., the beginning of theDFL 15).

The defect entry 33 contains positional information about a defect blockdetected in the data area 5; replacement block positional informationabout a spare area which replaces the defect block; and the like.

The DDS 14 contains defect list beginning positional informationindicating the position of the DFL 15, and the like.

The DMA1 to the DMA4 contained in the rewritable optical disc 400 arerewritable. Therefore, every time defect management information isupdated, latest defect management information can be written over theDMA1 to the DMA4, i.e., updates can be performed. Thus, latest defectmanagement information can be consistently recorded in the DMA1 to theDMA4 at the fixed positions.

FIG. 24 shows the structure of a conventional rewritable optical discrecording/reproduction apparatus 200.

The optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 200 is connected viaan I/O bus 170 to a higher level control apparatus (not shown). Thehigher level control apparatus is typically a host computer.

The optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 200 comprises: acommand processing section 110 for processing a command from the higherlevel control apparatus; a recording control section 120 for controllingrecording of an optical disc; a reproduction control section 130 forcontrolling reproduction of an optical disc; a defect managementinformation storage buffer 140 for storing contents reproduced from anyone of the DMA1 to the DMA4; a data buffer 150 for temporarily storingrecorded data and reproduced data; and a defect management informationprocessing section 180 for performing processing relating to defectmanagement information.

The defect management information processing section 180 comprises: adefect management information reading section 161 for detecting a normaldefect management area from the DMA1 to the DMA4 and reading andtransferring contents from the normal defect management area to thedefect management information storage buffer 140; a defect managementinformation updating section 164 for, when defect block information hasbeen changed, updating the contents of the defect management informationstorage buffer 140 to create new defect information; a defect managementinformation writing section 162 for writing the contents updated by thedefect management information updating section 164 to the DMA1 to theDMA4; and a defect management information control memory 163 for storingan operational control state of the defect management informationprocessing section 180.

However, information can be recorded into the DMA1 to the DMA4 of awrite-once read-many information recording medium (write-once read-manyoptical disc) only once. Therefore, in the case of write-once read-manyinformation recording media, it is not possible that latest defectmanagement information is consistently recorded at a predeterminedposition in the DMA1 to the DMA4 as in rewritable information recordingmedia (rewritable optical discs). Therefore, recording/reproductionapparatuses for rewritable information recording media cannot performrecording/reproduction on write-once read-many information recordingmedia capable of defect management.

The present invention is provided to solve the above-described problems.An object of the present invention is to provide a write-once read-manyinformation recording medium on which recording/reproduction can beperformed by a recording/reproduction apparatus for rewritableinformation recording media; an information recording method forrecording information onto the write-once read-many informationrecording medium; an information reproduction method for reproducinginformation from the write-once read-many information recording medium;an information recording apparatus for recording information onto thewrite-once read-many information recording medium; and an informationreproduction apparatus for reproducing information from the write-onceread-many information recording medium.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, a write-once read-manyinformation recording medium is provided, wherein: at least one discmanagement working area is sequentially allocated in a predetermineddirection; in the at least one disc management working area, discmanagement information, which is management information about thewrite-once read-many information recording medium, and disc definitionstructure containing positional information about the disc managementinformation, are provided; latest disc management information and latestdisc definition structure are provided, wherein the latest discmanagement information precedes the latest disc definition structure inthe predetermined direction; the latest disc management information isdisc management information provided in a recorded disc managementworking area neighboring a border between the recorded disc managementworking area and an unrecorded disc management working area; the latestdisc definition structure is a disc definition structure containingpositional information about the latest disc management information; andthe latest disc definition structure is provided at a predeterminedposition in the recorded disc management working area neighboring theborder, the predetermined position being capable of being calculatedbased on the border as a reference.

In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management information hasa variable size; and the disc definition structure has a fixed size.

In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium contains a data area for recording data anda spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area;the disc management information contains a replacement list containingcorrespondence relationship information indicating a correspondencerelationship between a replacement source area contained in the dataarea and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area; andthe disc definition structure contains replacement list positionalinformation which is positional information about the replacement list.

In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is adirection from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of thewrite-once read-many information recording medium; and the latest discdefinition structure is provided at a predetermined position which iscapable of being calculated based on an end of the recorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border as a reference.

In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is adirection from an outer periphery to an inner periphery of thewrite-once read-many information recording medium; and the latest discdefinition structure is provided at a predetermined position which iscapable of being calculated based on a beginning of the recorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border as a reference.

In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management working areacontains a plurality of blocks; each of the plurality of blocks is aunit for recording/reproducing data; and the disc management informationand the disc definition structure are provided in different blocks inthe plurality of blocks.

In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management working areacontains one or more blocks; each of the one or more blocks is a unitfor recording/reproducing data; the disc management information and thedisc definition structure shares at least one of the one or more blocks;and the disc definition structure is provided at a predeterminedposition in a predetermined block among blocks contained in the recordeddisc management working area neighboring the border, the predeterminedblock being capable of being calculated based on the border as areference.

In one embodiment of this invention, a finalization identifying flag isrecorded in the write-once read-many information recording medium; andthe finalization identifying flag indicates prohibition of additionallyrecording data into the at least one disc management working area.

In one embodiment of this invention, at least one of the disc definitionstructure and the disc management information contains the finalizationidentifying flag.

In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium contains at least one disc management area;in the at least one disc management area, the last disc managementinformation and the last disc definition structure are provided; thelast disc management information is the latest disc managementinformation provided in the at least one disc management area; the lastdisc definition structure is a disc definition structure containingpositional information about the last disc management information; andthe last disc management information and the last disc definitionstructure are provided from a beginning of the at least one discmanagement area, wherein the last disc definition structure precedes thelast disc management information in the direction from the innerperiphery to the outer periphery of the write-once read-many informationrecording medium.

In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management working areacontains a plurality of blocks; each of the plurality of blocks is aunit for recording/reproducing data; and the disc management informationand the disc definition structure are provided in different blocks inthe plurality of blocks.

In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management working areacontains one or more blocks; each of the one or more blocks is a unitfor recording/reproducing data; the disc management information and thedisc definition structure shares at least one of the one or more blocks;and the disc definition structure is provided at a predeterminedposition in a predetermined block among blocks contained in the recordeddisc management working area neighboring the border, the predeterminedblock being capable of being calculated based on the border as areference.

In one embodiment of this invention, a finalization identifying flag isrecorded in the write-once read-many information recording medium; andthe finalization identifying flag indicates prohibition of additionallyrecording data into the at least one disc management working area.

In one embodiment of this invention, at least one of the disc definitionstructure and the disc management information contains the finalizationidentifying flag.

In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium contains at least one disc management area;in the at least one disc management area, the last disc managementinformation and the last disc definition structure are provided; thelast disc management information is the latest disc managementinformation provided in the at least one disc management area; the lastdisc definition structure is a disc definition structure containingpositional information about the last disc management information; andthe last disc management information and the last disc definitionstructure are provided from a beginning of the at least one discmanagement area, wherein the last disc definition structure precedes thelast disc management information in the direction from the innerperiphery to the outer periphery of the write-once read-many informationrecording medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an informationrecording method for recording information onto a write-once read-manyinformation recording medium, is provided, wherein at least one discmanagement working area is sequentially provided in a predetermineddirection on the write-once read-many information recording medium, theinformation recording method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting anunrecorded disc management working area neighboring a border between arecorded disc management working area and the unrecorded disc managementworking area; (b) recording disc management information, which ismanagement information about the write-once read-many informationrecording medium, into the unrecorded disc management working areaneighboring the border; and (c) recording a disc definition structurecontaining positional information about the disc management informationrecorded in the step (b) into the unrecorded disc management workingarea neighboring the border, wherein the disc management information andthe disc definition structure are provided in the predetermineddirection, the disc management information preceding the disc definitionstructure in the predetermined direction, and the disc definitionstructure is provided at a predetermined position in the unrecorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border, the predeterminedposition being capable of being calculated based on the border as areference.

In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management information hasa variable size and the disc definition structure has a fixed size.

In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium contains a data area for recording data anda spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area;the disc management information contains a replacement list containingcorrespondence relationship information indicating a correspondencerelationship between a replacement source area contained in the dataarea and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area; andthe disc definition structure contains replacement list positionalinformation which is positional information about the replacement list.

In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is adirection from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of thewrite-once read-many information recording medium; and the discdefinition structure containing the positional information about thedisc management information recorded in the step (b) is provided at apredetermined position which is capable of being calculated based on anend of the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring theborder as a reference.

In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is adirection from an outer periphery to an inner periphery of thewrite-once read-many information recording medium; and the discdefinition structure containing the positional information about thedisc management information recorded in the step (b) is provided at apredetermined position which is capable of being calculated based on abeginning of the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring theborder as a reference.

In one embodiment of this invention, the step (b) further comprisesdetermining whether or not the recording of the disc managementinformation has been normally performed; the step (c) further comprisedetermining whether or not the recording of the disc definitionstructure has been normally performed; and the information recordingmethod further comprises the step of: (d) repeatedly performing the step(b) until the recording of the disc management information is normallyperformed, and repeatedly performing the step (c) until the recording ofthe disc definition structure is normally performed.

In one embodiment of this invention, the step (b) further comprisesdetermining whether or not the recording of the disc managementinformation has been normally performed; the step (c) further comprisesdetermining whether or not the recording of the disc definitionstructure has been normally performed; and the information recordingmethod further comprises the step of: (d) repeatedly performing the step(b) until the recording of the disc management information is normallyperformed, and repeatedly performing the step (c) until the recording ofthe disc definition structure is normally performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an informationreproduction method for reproducing information from a write-onceread-many information recording medium, is provided, wherein: at leastone disc management working area is sequentially allocated in apredetermined direction on the writ-e-once read-many informationrecording medium; in the at least one disc management working area, discmanagement information, which is management information about thewrite-once read-many information recording medium, and disc definitionstructure containing positional information about the disc managementinformation, are provided; latest disc management information and latestdisc definition structure are provided in the predetermined direction,the latest disc management information preceding the latest discdefinition structure in the predetermined direction; the latest discmanagement information is disc management information provided in arecorded disc management working area neighboring a border between therecorded disc management working area and an unrecorded disc managementworking area; the latest disc definition structure is a disc definitionstructure containing positional information about the latest discmanagement information; the latest disc definition structure is providedat a predetermined position in the recorded disc management working areaneighboring the border, the predetermined position being capable ofbeing calculated based on the border as a reference, the informationreproduction method comprising the steps of: (a) searching for aposition of the border to obtain border positional informationindicating the position of the border; (b) reproducing the latest discdefinition structure based on the border positional information; (c)obtaining positional information about the latest disc managementinformation based on the latest disc definition structure; and (d)reproducing the disc management information based on the positionalinformation about the latest disc management information.

In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management information hasa variable size and the disc definition structure has a fixed size.

In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium contains a data area for recording data anda spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area;the disc management information contains a replacement list containingcorrespondence relationship information indicating a correspondencerelationship between a replacement source area contained in the dataarea and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area; andthe disc definition structure contains replacement list positionalinformation which is positional information about the replacement list.

In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is adirection from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of thewrite-once read-many information recording medium; and the latest discdefinition structure is provided at a predetermined position which iscapable of being calculated based on an end of the recorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border as a reference.

In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is adirection from an outer periphery to an inner periphery of thewrite-once read-many information recording medium; and the latest discdefinition structure is provided at a predetermined position which iscapable of being calculated based on a beginning of the recorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border as a reference.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an informationrecording apparatus for recording information onto a write-onceread-many information recording medium, is provided, wherein at leastone disc management working area is sequentially provided in apredetermined direction on the write-once read-many informationrecording medium, the information recording apparatus comprising: (a) asection for selecting an unrecorded disc management working areaneighboring a border between a recorded disc management working area andthe unrecorded disc management working area; (b) a section for recordingdisc management information, which is management information about thewrite-once read-many information recording medium, into the unrecordeddisc management working area neighboring the border; (c) a section forrecording a disc definition structure containing positional informationabout the disc management information recorded in the step (b) into theunrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border, whereinthe disc management information and the disc definition structure areprovided in the predetermined direction, the disc management informationpreceding the disc definition structure in the predetermined direction,and the disc definition structure is provided at a predeterminedposition in the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring theborder, the predetermined position being capable of being calculatedbased on the border as a reference.

In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management information hasa variable size and the disc definition structure has a fixed size.

In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium contains a data area for recording data anda spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area;the disc management information contains a replacement list containingcorrespondence relationship information indicating a correspondencerelationship between a replacement source area contained in the dataarea and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area; andthe disc definition structure contains replacement list positionalinformation which is positional information about the replacement list.

In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is adirection from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of thewrite-once read-many information recording medium; and the discdefinition structure containing the positional information about thedisc management information recorded by the section (b) is provided at apredetermined position which is capable of being calculated based on anend of the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring theborder as a reference.

In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is adirection from an outer periphery to an inner periphery of thewrite-once read-many information recording medium; and the discdefinition structure containing the positional information about thedisc management information recorded by the section (b) is provided at apredetermined position which is capable of being calculated based on abeginning of the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring theborder as a reference.

In one embodiment of this invention, the section (b) further comprises asection for determining whether or not the recording of the discmanagement information has been normally performed; the section (c)further comprise a section for determining whether or not the recordingof the disc definition structure has been normally performed; and theinformation recording apparatus further comprises: (d) a section forrepeatedly performing recording of the disc management information untilthe recording of the disc management information is normally performed,and repeatedly performing recording of the disc definition structureuntil the recording of the disc definition structure is normallyperformed.

In one embodiment of this invention, the section (b) further comprises asection for determining whether or not the recording of the discmanagement information has been normally performed; the section (c)further comprises a section for determining whether or not the recordingof the disc definition structure has been normally performed; and theinformation recording apparatus further comprises: (d) a section forrepeatedly performing recording of the disc management information untilthe recording of the disc management information is normally performed,and repeatedly performing recording of the disc definition structureuntil the recording of the disc definition structure is normallyperformed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an informationreproduction apparatus for reproducing information from a write-onceread-many information recording medium, is provide, wherein: at leastone disc management working area is sequentially allocated in apredetermined direction on the write-once read-many informationrecording medium; in the at least one disc management working area, discmanagement information, which is management information about thewrite-once read-many information recording medium, and disc definitionstructure containing positional information about the disc managementinformation, are provided; latest disc management information and latestdisc definition structure are provided in the predetermined direction,the latest disc management information preceding the latest discdefinition structure in the predetermined direction; the latest discmanagement information is disc management information provided in arecorded disc management working area neighboring a border between therecorded disc management working area and an unrecorded disc managementworking area; the latest disc definition structure is a disc definitionstructure containing positional information about the latest discmanagement information; the latest disc definition structure is providedat a predetermined position in the recorded disc management working areaneighboring the border, the predetermined position being capable ofbeing calculated based on the border as a reference, the informationreproduction apparatus comprising: (a) a section for searching for aposition of the border to obtain border positional informationindicating the position of the border; (b) a section for reproducing thelatest disc definition structure based on the border positionalinformation; (c) a section for obtaining positional information aboutthe latest disc management information based on the latest discdefinition structure; and (d) a section for reproducing the discmanagement information based on the positional information about thelatest disc management information.

In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management information hasa variable size and the disc definition structure has a fixed size.

In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium contains a data area for recording data anda spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area;the disc management information contains a replacement list containingcorrespondence relationship information indicating a correspondencerelationship between a replacement source area contained in the dataarea and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area; andthe disc definition structure contains replacement list positionalinformation which is positional information about the replacement list.

In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is adirection from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of thewrite-once read-many information recording medium; and the latest discdefinition structure is provided at a predetermined position which iscapable of being calculated based on an end of the recorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border as a reference.

In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is adirection from an outer periphery to an inner periphery of thewrite-once read-many information recording medium; and the latest discdefinition structure is provided at a predetermined position which iscapable of being calculated based on a beginning of the recorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border as a reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an arrangement of areas in a write-onceread-many optical disc according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data structure of a write-once read-manyoptical disc according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing data structures of a DDS and a defect list.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical discrecording/reproduction apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a procedure for obtaining the latest defectlist and the latest DDS from a recorded defect management working areaneighboring a border between the recorded defect management working areaand an unrecorded defect management working area in a write-onceread-many optical disc according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a process for searching for a recording endposition.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for searching for a recordingend position.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a defect list and a DDS areadditionally recorded into a DMWA contained in a temporary defectmanagement area.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a procedure for additionally recording a defectlist and a DDS into a defect management working area of a write-onceread-many optical disc according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a procedure for additionally recording a newdefect list and DDS into a defect management working area whiledetermining whether or not the defect list and the DDS have beennormally recorded.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which a defect list and a DDSare additionally recorded into a defect management working area inaccordance with the procedure described with reference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a data structure of another write-onceread-many optical disc according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a procedure for finalization according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing data structures of a rewritable opticaldisc and a write-once read-many optical disc after finalization forcomparison.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of another finalization procedure according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a finalization determination procedure fordetermining whether or not a write-once read-many optical disc isalready finalized.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of another finalization determination procedurefor determining whether or not a write-once read-many optical disc isalready finalized.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a data structure of a DMWA according toEmbodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a structure of a SDDS.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a procedure for obtaining a SDDS and a SDFLfrom the latest recorded defect management working area among defectmanagement working areas contained in a temporary defect managementarea.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a procedure for additionally recording aSDFL and a SDDS into a defect management working area in a write-onceread-many optical disc according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an exemplary defect management working areain which a space bit map information and a defect list are provided aschild information.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the data structure of a conventionalrewritable optical disc.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the structure of an optical discrecording/reproduction apparatus which can handle the conventionalrewritable optical disc of FIG. 23.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by way ofillustrative embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the embodiments below, a write-once read-many information recordingmedium (hereinafter also referred to as “write-once read-many opticaldisc”) is employed.

Embodiment 1

1.1. Data Structure of Write-Once Read-Many Optical Disc

FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of areas in a write-once read-many opticaldisc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. A number oftracks 2 are spirally formed on the disc-like write-once read-manyoptical disc 1. Each track 2 is subdivided into a number of blocks 3. Ablock 3 is a unit for error correction, which is a minimum unit forrecording or reproduction operations. For example, in the case ofDVD-RAM using red laser the size of a block 3 is 1 ECC (32 KBytes) whilein the case of large-capacity BD-RE using blue laser the size of a block3 is 1 cluster (64 KBytes).

A lead-in area 4, a data area 5, and a lead-out area 6 are allocated onthe write-once read-many optical disc 1. User data is recorded into orreproduced from the data area 5. The lead-in area 4 and the lead-outarea 6 function as a margin with which even if an optical head (notshown) accesses but overruns an end of the data area 5, the optical headcan follow a designated track.

FIG. 2 shows a data structure of the write-once read-many optical disc 1according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Areas on the write-once read-many optical disc 1 are roughly dividedinto the lead-in area 4, the data area 5 and the lead-out area 6.

The lead-in area 4 contains a first defect management area 10(hereinafter also referred to as “DMA1”) and a second defect managementarea 11 (hereinafter also referred to as “DMA2”), and a temporary defectmanagement area 20.

The DMA1 and the DMA2 are used for management of information or the likein defect blocks of the data area 5.

The data area 5 is used for recording of data, containing a user dataarea 16 and a spare area 17.

The user data area 16 is a write-once read-many area into which anyinformation, such as real time data (e.g., music, video, etc.), computerdata (e.g., documents, databases, etc.), or the like, can be recorded bythe user.

The spare area 17 is a replacement area for the data area 5. Forexample, when a defect block is detected in the user data area 16, datais recorded into a replacement area instead of the defect block. In thedata structure of the write-once read-many optical disc 1 of FIG. 2, aspare area 17 is provided in each of the inner (i.e., closer to thelead-in area 4) and outer (i.e., closer to the lead-out area 6)peripheries of the data area 5. However, the number of spare areas 17 orthe positions of spare areas 17 may be arbitrarily determined but notlimited to the number of spare areas or the positions of spare areasshown in FIG. 2.

The lead-out area 6 contains a third defect management area 12(hereinafter also referred to as “DMA3”) and a fourth defect managementarea 13 (hereinafter also referred to as “DMA4”).

The DMA3 and the DMA4 are areas for managing information about a defectblock in the data area 5 or the like.

Each of the DMA1 to the DMA4 has a predetermined position and a fixedlength. Management information provided in each of the DMA1 to the DMA4has a variable length which varies depending on the number of defectblocks.

Each of the DMA1 to the DMA4 contains a disc definition structure(hereinafter also referred to as “DDS”) 14 and a defect list(hereinafter also referred to as “DFL”) 15, where the DDS 14 precedesthe DFL 15.

The temporary defect management area 20 contains N defect managementworking areas (hereinafter also referred to as “DMWA”) 21, where N is aninteger of 1 or more.

The defect management working area 21 is used for temporarily recordingdefect management information which has been updated before thewrite-once read-many optical disc 1 is finalized. The defect managementworking area 21 contains a DDS 14 and a defect list 15, where the defectlist 15 precedes the DDS 14. The defect management working area 21contains at least one block. A block is a unit for recording/reproducingdata.

As used herein, the term “finalize a write-once read-many optical disc”means that the state of a write-once read-many optical disc is changedfrom a write-once read-many state to a non-write-once read-many state.For example, by recording the contents of the latest defect managementworking area 21 to the DMA1 to the DMA4, a data structure of thewrite-once read-many optical disc 1 can be changed to a data structurewhich is compatible with a data structure of a rewritable optical disc,i.e., the write-once read-many optical disc 1 is changed from awrite-once read-many state to a non-write-once read-many state.Finalization will be described in detail below.

At least one defect management working area 21 (DMWA#1 to DMWA#N (N: aninteger of 1 or more)) is sequentially allocated from the beginningtoward the end of the temporary defect management area 20 (i.e., in thedirection of from the inner periphery to the outer periphery of thewrite-once read-many optical disc 1). Defect information is recordedsequentially from a defect management working area 21 at the beginningof the temporary defect management area 20 (closer to the innerperiphery of the write-once read-many optical disc 1). In each defectmanagement working area 21, a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are providedin the direction from the beginning to the end of the temporary defectmanagement area 20 (the direction from the inner periphery to the outerperiphery of the write-once read-many optical disc 1), where the defectlist 15 precedes the DDS 14. In other words, a DDS 14 and a defect list15 are provided in each defect management working area 21 in reverseorder with respect to each of the DMA1 to the DMA4.

Note that the temporary defect management area 20 containing defectmanagement working areas 21 may not be necessarily contained in thelead-in area 4. The temporary defect management area 20 may be containedin, for example, the lead-out area 6 or the spare area 17 excluding theuser data area 16.

For example, a DDS 14 is located in a recorded defect management workingarea neighboring a border between the recorded defect management workingarea and an unrecorded defect management working area. The DDS 14 islocated at a predetermined position in a recorded defect managementworking area neighboring the border, and the predetermined position canbe calculated based on the border. In Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention, it is assumed that a DDS 14 is located at the end of arecorded defect management working area neighboring a border between therecorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defectmanagement working area.

Note that the position of a DDS 14 is not limited to the end of a defectmanagement working area. A DDS 14 may be located at a predeterminedposition which can be calculated from a reference, i.e., the end(border) of a recorded defect management working area neighboring aborder between the recorded defect management working area and anunrecorded defect management working area.

FIG. 3 shows data structures of a DDS 14 and a defect list 15.

A DDS 14 contains positional information about a defect list 15. Forexample, the DDS 14 contains a defect list beginning positionalinformation 30 indicating a beginning position at which the defect list15 is located and other information 31. For example, the defect listbeginning positional information 30 is herein a sector address which ispositional information about a sector (1 sector has a size of 2 KBytes)which is the smallest addressable unit.

A DDS 14 has a fixed length which is, for example, the size of 1 block.In Embodiment 1 of the present invention, it is assumed that a DDS 14has a size of 1 block. Note that a DDS 14 may not necessarily have afixed length if the position of information indicating the position of adefect list 15 (i.e., the defect list beginning positional information30) can be calculated based on a reference, i.e., a border between arecorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defectmanagement working area. This is because the positions of defect listscan be calculated from the border as a reference.

A defect list 15 contains a defect list header 32 and M defect entries33 (M: an integer of 0 or more).

The defect list 15 may further contain information indicating an anchorindicating the end of defect management information in addition to thedefect list header 32 and the defect entry 33.

The defect list header 32 contains the number of defect entries 33contained in a defect list, or the like.

The defect entry 33 contains correspondence relationship informationindicating a correspondence relationship between an area in a data area(replacement source) and an area in a spare area (replacementdestination). The defect entry 33 contains, for example, positionalinformation about a defect block detected in the user data area 16 andreplacement block positional information about the spare area 17 whichcontains a replacement destination of the defect block.

A defect list 15 has a variable length which depends on the number ofdefect entries 33 registered in the defect list 15. Specifically, thesizes of the defect management working area #1 to the defect managementworking area #N are not necessarily the same (see FIG. 2).

1.2. Configuration of an Optical Disc Recording/Reproduction Apparatus100

FIG. 4 shows a configuration of an optical disc recording/reproductionapparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

The optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 100 is connected viaan I/O bus 170 to a higher level control apparatus (not shown). Thehigher level control apparatus is, for example, a host computer.

The optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 100 comprises: acommand processing section 110 for processing a command from the higherlevel control apparatus; a recording control section 120 for controllingrecording of a write-once read-many optical disc 1; a reproductioncontrol section 130 for controlling reproduction of an optical disc; adefect management information storage buffer 140 for storing contentsreproduced from any one of the DMA1 to the DMA4 or contents reproducedfrom a defect management working area 21; a data buffer 150 fortemporarily storing recorded data and reproduced data; and a defectmanagement information processing section 160 for performing processingrelating to defect management information.

The defect management information processing section 160 comprises adefect management information reading section 161, a defect managementinformation writing section 162, a defect management information controlmemory 163, a defect management information updating section 164, adefect management working information reading section 165, and a defectmanagement working information writing section 166.

The defect management information reading section 161 detects a normaldefect management area from the DMA1 to the DMA4 and reads and transferscontents from the defect management area to the defect managementinformation storage buffer 140.

The defect management information reading section 161 further reads outdata from one of a plurality of defect management areas allocated on thewrite-once read-many optical disc 1, determines whether or not thedefect management area has been recorded, and based on the result ofdetermination, determines whether or not the write-once read-manyoptical disc 1 has been changed from a write-once read-many state to anon-write-once read-many state.

For example, the defect management information reading section 161 readsout data from at least one of the DMA1 to the DMA4. If the write-onceread-many optical disc 1 can be normally reproduced, it is determinedthat the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has been finalized. If allof the DMA1 to the DMA4 are unrecorded and data cannot be normallyreproduced from these defect management areas, it is determined that thewrite-once read-many optical disc 1 has not been finalized.

If defect block information is changed or the like, the defectmanagement information updating section 164 updates the contents of thedefect management information storage buffer 140 to create new defectmanagement information.

The defect management information writing section 162 writes thecontents updated by the defect management information updating section164 to the DMA1 to the DMA4. In other words, the defect managementinformation writing section 162 records defect management information tothe DMA1 to the DMA4 for finalization.

The defect management information control memory 163 stores anoperational control state of the defect management informationprocessing section 160.

The defect management working information reading section 165 searchesthe defect management working areas 21 contained in the temporary defectmanagement area 20 for the latest recorded defect management workingarea 21. Contents recorded in the latest defect management working area21 are read out to the defect management information storage buffer 140.

Note that the defect management information reading section 161 readsout data from each of the DMA1 to the DMA4 and determines whether or notthe write-once read-many optical disc 1 has been finalized.Alternatively, the defect management working information reading section165 can determine whether or not the write-once read-many optical disc 1has been finalized. For example, the defect management workinginformation reading section 165 determines whether or not the write-onceread-many optical disc 1 has been finalized, based on whether or not afinalization identifying flag is recorded at a predetermined position ina defect management working area 21. The finalization identifying flagindicates that additional recording of data to at least one defectmanagement working area 21 is prohibited.

Note that the recording position of the finalization identifying flag isnot limited to a predetermined position in a defect management workingarea 21. The finalization identifying flag may be recorded at apredetermined position in the write-once read-many optical disc 1.

For example, the finalization identifying flag may be recorded in atleast one of the disc definition structure 14 and the defect list 15. Ifthe defect management working information reading section 165 reads outthe finalization identifying flag recorded in at least one of the discdefinition structure 14 and the defect list 15, it is determined thatthe write-once read-many optical disc 1 has been finalized.

The defect management working information writing section 166 writescontents updated by the defect management information updating section164 to an available defect management working area 21. In addition, thefinalization identifying flag can be written to the defect managementworking area 21. For example, the defect management working informationwriting section 166 records the finalization identifying flag to atleast one of the disc definition structure 14 and a defect list 15.

1.3. Obtaining the Latest Defect Management Information

Hereinafter, a method for obtaining (reproducing) information recordedon the write-once read-many optical disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 ofthe present invention (the latest defect list and the latest DDSrecorded in a defect management working area neighboring a borderbetween the recorded defect management working area and an unrecordeddefect management working area) will be described.

FIG. 5 shows a procedure for obtaining the latest defect list 15 and thelatest DDS 14 from a recorded defect management working area neighboringa border between the recorded defect management working area and anunrecorded defect management working area in the write-once read-manyoptical disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.Hereinafter, such a procedure will be described step by step withreference to FIG. 5.

Step 601: the defect management working information reading section 165searches for the position of a border between a recorded defectmanagement working area and an unrecorded defect management working areaand obtains border positional information indicating the position of theborder.

For example, the defect management working information reading section165 searches for the end position of recorded areas (hereinafter alsoreferred to as “recording end position”) in the temporary defectmanagement area 20 and stores the position of a defect managementworking area 21 at the end position in a recording end position 40 ofthe defect management information control memory 163. For, example, theposition of a defect management working area 21 is herein a sectoraddress which is positional information about a sector located at arecording end position. After the position of the defect managementworking area 21 at the detected recording end is stored, the processgoes to step 602. Note that the search for the recording end positionwill be described in detail below.

Step 602: the defect management working information reading section 165reproduces the latest DDS 14 based on the border positional information,and based on the latest DDS 14, obtains positional information about thelatest defect list 15.

For example, the defect management working information reading section165 reads out the latest DDS 14 having a size of 1 block which ends at arecording end position 40 to the defect management information storagebuffer 140 and stores the defect list beginning positional information30 contained in the latest DDS 14 at a defect list beginning position 41in the defect management information control memory 163. After thelatest DDS 14 is read out and the defect list beginning positionalinformation 30 is stored, the process goes to step 603.

Step 603: the latest defect list 15 is reproduced based on positionalinformation about the latest defect list 15.

For example, the defect management working information reading section165 reads the latest defect list 15 located whose beginning is thedefect list beginning position 41 to the defect management informationstorage buffer 140. After the latest defect list 15 is read out, theprocess is ended.

In this case, if the recording end position 40 indicates that notemporary defect management area 20 is recorded, reading in steps 602and 603 is not required. Instead of reading, a DDS 14 and a defect list15 may be previously stored in the defect management information storagebuffer 140. Note that the stored DDS 14 contains the defect listbeginning positional information 30 which has been initialized to apredetermined value, and in the stored defect list 15, the number ofdefect entries in the defect list header 32 has been initialized (thenumber of defect entries=0), i.e., the stored defect list 15 has nodefect entry 33.

Note that the size of a defect list 15 to be read out may be calculatedbased on the number of defect entries contained in the defect listheader located at the beginning of the defect list 15, or may becalculated by subtracting the beginning position of a DDS 14 from thedefect list beginning position.

FIG. 6 shows a process for searching for a recording end position. FIG.7 shows a procedure for searching for a recording end position.Searching for a recording end position means searching for the latestrecorded defect management working area 21.

Hereinafter, a procedure for searching for a recording end position willbe described step by step with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

Step 801: the defect management working information reading section 165performs first amplitude examination. The first amplitude examination isperformed at regular predetermined intervals of blocks from thebeginning of the temporary defect management area 20 until no amplitudeis found. After no amplitude is found, the process goes to step 802.

Step 802: the defect management working information reading section 165performs second amplitude examination. In the second amplitudeexamination, a position at which the presence of amplitude ends issearched for between the position at which amplitude was found and theposition at which no amplitude was found. After a position at which noamplitude is found, the process goes to step 803.

Step 803: the defect management working information reading section 165obtains a recording end position obtained by the examination (theposition of a border between the latest recorded defect managementworking area and an unrecorded defect management working area). Afterthe recording end position is obtained, the process is ended.

With the above-described procedure, the defect management workinginformation reading section 165 can read out the contents of the latestrecorded defect management working area 21.

Note that a procedure for searching for a recording end position is notlimited to the recording end position searching procedure described withreference to FIG. 7. For example, a recording end position can be foundby searching a beginning position having amplitude from the end to thebeginning of the temporary defect management area 20.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, step 601 corresponds to “searching for theposition of a border and obtaining border positional informationindicating the position of the border”. Step 602 corresponds to“reproducing latest disc definition structure based on the borderpositional information” and “obtaining positional information aboutlatest disc management information based on the latest disc definitionstructure”. Step 603 corresponds to “reproducing disc managementinformation based on positional information about the latest discmanagement information”.

However, a procedure for obtaining the latest defect list 15 and thelatest DDS 14 from a recorded defect management working area neighboringa border between the recorded defect management working area and anunrecorded defect management working area in the write-once read-manyoptical disc 1 is not limited to the procedure of FIG. 5. Any procedurefor obtaining the latest defect list 15 and the latest DDS 14 from arecorded defect management working area neighboring a border between therecorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defectmanagement working area in the write-once read-many optical disc 1 canbe employed as long as the procedure comprises the above-described“searching for the position of a border and obtaining border positionalinformation indicating the position of the border”, “reproducing latestdisc definition structure based on the border positional information”and “obtaining positional information about latest disc managementinformation based on the latest disc definition structure”, and“reproducing disc management information based on positional informationabout the latest disc management information”.

1.4. Update of Defect Management Information

Hereinafter, a method for recording information (a defect list 15 and aDDS 14) onto the write-once read-many optical disc 1 according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 areadditionally recorded into the DMWA 21 contained in the temporary defectmanagement area 20.

A portion (a) of FIG. 8 shows a state in which a defect list 15 and aDDS 14 are recorded into a DMWA#1 contained in the temporary defectmanagement area 20 at a first time point. A portion (b) of FIG. 8 showsa state in which a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are recorded into aDMWA#2 contained in the temporary defect management area 20 at a secondtime point. A portion (c) of FIG. 8 shows a state in which a defect list15 and a DDS 14 are recorded into a DMWA#3 contained in the temporarydefect management area 20 at a third time.

In FIG. 8, filled DMWAs indicate recorded DMWAs in which a defect list15 and a DDS 14 have been recorded, while open DMWAs indicate unrecordedDMWAs in which the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 have not been recorded.

A new defect list 15 and DDS 14 are additionally recorded into anunrecorded DMWA which is located at the beginning of a plurality ofunrecorded DMWAs. In other words, a new defect list 15 and DDS 14 areadditionally recorded to an unrecorded DMWA neighboring a border betweenthe unrecorded DMWA and a recorded DMWA.

Therefore, the latest defect list 15 and DDS 14 are located in arecorded DMWA neighboring the end of a plurality of recorded DMWAs. Inother words, the latest defect list 15 and DDS 14 are located in arecorded DMWA neighboring a border between an unrecorded DMWA and therecorded DMWA.

FIG. 9 shows a procedure for additionally recording a defect list 15 anda DDS 14 into a defect management working area 21 of the write-onceread-many optical disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

The defect management working information writing section 166additionally records a new defect list 15 and DDS 14 into a defectmanagement working area 21.

In this case, the defect list 15 stored in the defect managementinformation storage buffer 140 is permitted by the defect managementinformation updating section 164 to retain the latest contents.

Specifically, for example, when a new defect block is detected, thedefect management information updating section 164 adds a defect entrycorresponding to a new replacement block (i.e., a new defect block) to adefect list 15 stored in the defect management information storagebuffer 140, and sorts defect entries based on positional informationabout defect blocks, which are contained in the defect entries. Further,the defect management information updating section 164 adds one to thenumber of defect entries in the defect list header.

Hereinafter, a procedure for additionally recording a defect list 15 anda DDS 14 to a defect management working area 21 in the write-onceread-many optical disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention will be described step by step with reference to FIG. 9.

Step 901: the defect management information updating section 164 selectsan unrecorded defect management working area neighboring a borderbetween a recorded defect management working area and the unrecordeddefect management working area.

For example, the defect management information updating section 164 addsto one a recording end position 40 in the defect management informationcontrol memory 163 and updates a DDS 14 contained in the defectmanagement information storage buffer 140 at the resultant recording endposition 40, so that an unrecorded defect management working area isselected which is located at the beginning of a plurality of unrecordeddefect management working areas. In other words, by updating a DDS 14 sothat defect list beginning positional information 30 indicates thebeginning position of an unrecorded defect management working area, anunrecorded defect management working area located at the beginning of aplurality of unrecorded defect management working areas is selected.After the DDS 14 is updated, the process goes to step 902.

Step 902: the defect management working information writing section 166records a defect list 15, which is management information about thewrite-once read-many optical disc 1, into an unrecorded defectmanagement working area neighboring a border and records a DDS 14containing positional information about the recorded defect list 15 intothe unrecorded defect management working area neighboring the border.

For example, the defect management working information writing section166 records an updated defect list 15 contained in the defect managementinformation storage buffer 140 to the beginning position of anunrecorded area and records an updated DDS 14 in such a manner as tofollow the defect list 15. After the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 arerecorded, the process is ended.

With the above-described procedure, the defect management workinginformation writing section 166 records the latest defect list 15 andDDS 14 to a defect management working area 21 contained in the temporarydefect management area 20.

Note that updating a defect list 15 using the defect managementinformation updating section 164 is only illustrative. It may be onlyrequired that a defect list 15 contains information about defect(s). Forexample, sorting defect entries may not be required.

Note that a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 may be recorded into a defectmanagement working area 21 of the temporary defect management area 20 atany timing as long as the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 are recorded insuch a manner that allows the DDS 14 to be necessarily located at theend of a recorded defect management working area when the state of anapparatus and the state of a medium are changed. The state of anapparatus and the state of a medium are changed, means, for example,that a write-once read-many optical disc is ejected from the opticaldisc recording/reproduction apparatus 100 or that the optical discrecording/reproduction apparatus 100 is switched off.

Note that when a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are recorded into a defectmanagement working area, it may be determined whether or not the defectlist 15 and the DDS 14 have been normally recorded.

FIG. 10 shows a procedure for additionally recording a new defect list15 and DDS 14 into a defect management working area 21 while determiningwhether or not the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 have been normallyrecorded.

It is now assumed that the contents of a defect list 15 stored in thedefect management information storage buffer 140 is permitted by thedefect management information updating section 164 to retain the latestcontents.

Hereinafter, a procedure for additionally recording a new defect list 15and DDS 14 into a defect management working area 21 while determiningwhether or not the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 have been normallyrecorded will be described step by step with reference to FIG. 10.

Step 1101: the defect management information updating section 164updates a DDS 14 contained in the defect management information storagebuffer 140 at the recording end position 40 contained in the defectmanagement information control memory 163, to which one has been added.In other words, the DDS 14 is updated in such a manner that the defectlist beginning positional information 30 indicates the beginningposition of an unrecorded defect management working area. After the DDS14 is updated, the process goes to step 1102.

Step 1102: the defect management working information writing section 166records an updated defect list 15 contained in the defect managementinformation storage buffer 140 to the beginning position of anunrecorded defect management working area. After recording, the processgoes to step 1103.

Step 1103: it is determined whether or not the defect list 15 has beennormally recorded.

In this case, whether or not the defect list 15 has been normallyrecorded is performed by, for example, performing error correction for ablock in which the defect list 15 is recorded or reading recorded dataand determining whether or not the recorded data matches intended data.

When it is determined that the defect list 15 has not been normallyrecorded (i.e., recording of the defect list 15 has failed), the processgoes to step 1101. In step 1101, the recording end position 40 ischanged by adding the size of a defect list which has been previouslyrecorded. In addition, the DDS 14 contained in the defect managementinformation storage buffer 140 is updated so that a position obtained byadds to one the recording end position 40 is contained in the defectlist beginning positional information 30.

When it is determined that the defect list 15 has been normally recorded(i.e., recording of the defect list 15 has been successful), the processgoes to step 1104.

Step 1104: the updated DDS 14 is recorded. After the DDS 14 is recorded,the process goes to step 1105.

Step 1105: it is determined whether or not the DDS 14 has been normallyrecorded.

When it is determined that the DDS 14 has not been normally recorded(i.e., recording of the DDS 14 has failed), the process goes to step1104.

When it is determined that the DDS 14 has been normally recorded (i.e.,recording of the DDS 14 has been successful), the process is ended.

Step 1102 and step 1103 are repeated until the defect list 15 has beennormally recorded. Step 1104 and step 1105 are repeated until the DDS 14has been normally recorded.

With the above-described procedure, the defect management working areaupdating section 165 additionally records a new defect list 15 and DDS14 into a defect management working area 21 while determining whether ornot the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 have been normally recorded.

Note that step 1101 and step 1102 may be performed in reverse order.Specifically, after a defect list 15 is recorded and it is confirmedthat the recording has been normally achieved, a DDS 14 containingdefect list beginning positional information 30 is recorded into adefect management working area 21 in which the defect list 15 has beenrecorded.

Note that although a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are located indifferent blocks among a plurality of blocks in the procedure describedin FIG. 10, both a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 may share at least oneblock among a plurality of blocks.

If both a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 may share at least one block amonga plurality of blocks, after a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are recordedin a block shared by the defect list 15 and the DDS 14, it is determinedwhether or not the recording has been normally achieved. If therecording has failed, positional information is changed so that aposition for a next recording corresponds to the defect list beginningpositional information 30 of a DDS 14, and a defect list 15 and a DDS 14are recorded again in a block shared by the defect list 15 and the DDS14. Recording of a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 is repeatedly attempteduntil the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 are normally recorded.

Therefore, the data reliability of a defect list 15 and a DDS 14recorded in a defect management working area 21 can be improved.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 areadditionally recorded into a defect management working area 21 inaccordance with the procedure described with reference to FIG. 10.

A portion (a) of FIG. 11 shows a state in which a defect block ispresent in a defect management working area #1 (DMWA#1), and therefore,first recording of a defect list 15 to the DMWA#1 has failed.Subsequently, recording of the defect list 15 is attempted. If recordingof the defect list 15 is successful, a DDS 14 is recorded following thedefect list 15.

A portion (b) of FIG. 11 shows a state in which no defect block ispresent in a DMWA#2.

As described above, even if a defect block is present in a defectmanagement working area 21 and therefore recording of a defect list 15and a DDS 14 fails, recording of the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 isrepeatedly attempted until the defect list 15 and the DDS 14 arenormally recorded. Thereby, recording of a defect list 15 and a DDS 14are appropriately performed.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, step 901 corresponds to “selecting anunrecorded disc management working area neighboring a border between arecorded disc management working area and the unrecorded disc managementworking area”; step 902 corresponds to “recording disc managementinformation, which is management information about a write-onceread-many information recording medium, into to the unrecorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border” and “recording a discdefinition structure containing positional information about discmanagement information defined in the above-described recording stepinto the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring theborder”.

However, a procedure for additionally recording a defect list and a DDSinto a defect management working area 21 of the write-once read-manyoptical disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is notlimited to that of FIG. 9. Any procedure for additionally recording adefect list and a DDS into a defect management working area 21 of thewrite-once read-many optical disc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention may be employed as long as the procedure has functionsof “selecting an unrecorded disc management working area neighboring aborder between a recorded disc management working area and theunrecorded disc management working area”; “recording disc managementinformation, which is management information about a write-onceread-many information recording medium, into to the unrecorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border” and “recording a discdefinition structure containing positional information about discmanagement information defined in the above-described recording stepinto the unrecorded disc management working area neighboring theborders”.

FIG. 12 shows a data structure of another write-once read-many opticaldisc 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In the other write-once read-many optical disc 1 according to Embodiment1 of the present invention, at least one defect management working area21 (DMWA#1 to DMWA#N (N: an integer of 1 or more)) is allocated in adirection from the end to the beginning of a temporary defect managementarea 20 (in a direction from the outer periphery to the inner peripheryof the write-once read-many optical disc 1). A DDS 14 and a defect list15 are recorded sequentially from a defect management working area 21 atthe end of the temporary defect management area 20 (closer to the outerperiphery of the write-once read-many optical disc 1).

A DDS 14 and a defect list 15 are provided in a defect managementworking area 21 in the same order as that of a DDS 14 and a defect list15 provided in each of a DMA1 to a DMA4. In a defect management workingarea 21, a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 are located in this order along adirection from the end to the beginning of the temporary defectmanagement area 20 (i.e., in a direction from the outer periphery to theinner periphery of the write-once read-many optical disc 1).

A DDS 14 is located in, for example, a recorded defect managementworking area neighboring a border between the recorded defect managementworking area and an unrecorded defect management working area. The DDS14 is located at a predetermined position which is calculated based onthe beginning of the recorded defect management working area neighboringthe border.

In the write-once read-many optical disc 1 of FIG. 12, when searchingfor the latest recorded defect management working area 21, the defectmanagement working information reading section 165 of the optical discrecording/reproduction apparatus 100 searches for the beginning positionof recorded areas (hereinafter also referred to as “recording beginningposition”) in the temporary defect management area 20 and determinesthat a defect management working area 21 located at the recordingbeginning position is the latest recorded defect management working area21. In other words, in FIG. 6, a recording beginning position issearched for where a recorded area is replaced with an unrecorded area.In the defect management working information writing section 166, anunrecorded defect management working area, which is closer to the innerperiphery than a recorded beginning area in the temporary defectmanagement area 20, is regarded as an available defect managementworking area 21.

In the write-once read-many information recording medium of the presentinvention, at least one defect management working area is sequentiallyallocated in a predetermined direction. The latest defect list and thelatest DDS are provided in a recorded defect management working areaneighboring a border between the recorded defect management working areaand an unrecorded defect management working area, wherein the latestdefect list and the latest DDS are arranged in this order along thepredetermined direction. Therefore, it is easy to find the latest DDSand the latest defect list.

Hereinafter, an effect of the above-described write-once read-manyinformation recording medium of the present invention, in which thepredetermined direction is a direction from the inner periphery to theouter periphery of the write-once read-many optical disc 1, will bedescribed in detail.

It is now assumed that the latest DFL 15 and the latest DDS 14 arearranged in a defect management working area 21 in this order along thedirection from the outer periphery to the inner periphery of thewrite-once read-many optical disc 1 as with the latest DFL 15 and thelatest DDS 14 in the DMA1 to the DMA4.

It is possible to search for a recording end position in the temporarydefect management area 20 (FIG. 8). However, the size of a DFL 15 variesdepending on the number of defect entries. Therefore, it is not possibleto calculate the beginning position of a DFL 15 from the end position.

In order to obtain the latest DFL 15 in the above-described datastructure, the beginning position of a DFL 15 is calculated from a DDS14 located at the beginning of the temporary defect management area 20,and the size of the DFL 15 is calculated from the number of defectentries contained in the DFL 15 to determine the position of the nextDDS 14. The beginning position of a DFL 15 is calculated from this DDS14, . . . . In this manner, the temporary defect management area 20 istracked sequentially. In the data structure in which a DDS 14 precedes aDFL 15, a long time is disadvantageously required. Moreover, if a blockfrom which data cannot be reproduced is present in a DDS 14 and a DFL15, a search for the latest DFL 15 is hindered, so that the reliabilityis disadvantageously lowered.

If a DFL 15 has a fixed length, the problem with the search for thelatest DDS 14 and the latest DFL 15 can be avoided. In this case,however, the number of times of additionally recording data into atemporary defect management area 20 is reduced or a larger size oftemporary defect management area 20 is required, leading to a reductionin the efficiency of use of areas.

In the write-once read-many optical disc 1 of Embodiment 1, at least onedefect management working area 21 is allocated in a predetermineddirection; the latest DFL 14 and the latest DDS 15 are arranged in thisorder along the predetermined direction and located in a recorded defectmanagement working area neighboring a border between the recorded defectmanagement working area and an unrecorded defect management workingarea; if a DDS 14 is located at a predetermined position which can becalculated based on the border, a DFL 15 having a variable size can beutilized, resulting in a high efficiency of use of a defect managementworking area 21; and the recording position of the latest DFL 15 isrecorded in a DDS 14 in a defect management working area 21 at therecording end position in the temporary defect management area 20 (i.e.,a recorded defect management working area neighboring the border).Therefore, the above-described problems can be solved.

In the write-once read-many optical disc of the present invention, atleast one defect management working area is allocated in a predetermineddirection; the latest DFL and the latest DDS are arranged in this orderalong the predetermined direction and located in a recorded defectmanagement working area neighboring a border between the recorded defectmanagement working area and an unrecorded defect management workingarea; and a DDS is located at a predetermined position which can becalculated based on the border. Therefore, it is possible to easily findthe latest DDS and the latest defect list.

1.5. Finalization

FIG. 13 shows a procedure for finalization according to Embodiment 1 ofthe present invention. By recording a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 intoeach of the DMA1 to the DMA4 of the write-once read-many optical disc 1of the present invention, the finalization of Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention is performed.

Here, the contents of a defect list 15 stored in the defect managementinformation storage buffer 140 are permitted by the defect managementinformation updating section 164 to retain the latest contents.

Hereinafter, the finalization procedure according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention will be described step by step with reference to FIG.13.

Step 1001: recording of a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 into one (e.g.,DMA1) of the DMA1 to the DMA4 is started.

Step 1002: the defect management information updating section 164changes the latest DDS 14 to the last DDS 14 by changing positionalinformation indicating the position of a recorded defect managementworking area neighboring a border to positional information indicatingthe position of one of at least one defect management area. For example,the defect management information updating section 164 changes thelatest DDS 14 to the last DDS 14 by changing the defect list beginningpositional information 30 of a DDS 14 in the defect managementinformation storage buffer 140 to the defect list beginning positionalinformation of the defect management area (DMA1) to be recorded. Afterthe defect list beginning positional information 30 is changed, theprocess goes to step 1003.

Step 1003: the defect management information writing section 162 recordsthe last defect list 15 into one of at least one defect managementareas. For example, the defect management information writing section162 records to the DMA1 a defect list 15 in the defect managementinformation storage buffer 140. After the defect list 15 is recorded,the process goes to step 1004.

Step 1004: the defect management information writing section 162 recordsthe last DDS 14 into one of at least one defect management areas basedon the last defect list 15. For example, the defect managementinformation writing section 162 records to the DMA1 a DDS 14 in thedefect management information storage buffer 140. After the DDS 14 isrecorded, the process goes to step 1005.

Step 1005: recording of a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 into one (DMA1) ofthe DMA1 to the DMA4 is completed. After recording is completed, theprocess goes to step 1001.

Step 1002 to step 1004 are performed for all of the remaining defectmanagement areas (i.e., the DMA2 to the DMA4).

After recording of a defect list 15 and a DDS 14 into the DMA1 to theDMA4 is completed, finalization is completed.

Note that in step 1001 to step 1005, the last defect list 15 is thelatest defect list 15 located in at least one defect management area,and the last disc definition structure 14 is a disc definition structure14 containing positional information about the last defect list 15. Thelatest defect list 15 is generally a defect list 15 which is recorded ina recorded defect management working area neighboring a border betweenthe recorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defectmanagement working area. The latest disc definition structure 14 isgenerally a disc definition structure 14 which contains positionalinformation about the last defect list 15.

With the above-described procedure, the defect management informationprocessing section 160 can record the last DDS 14 and the last defectlist 15 into the DMA1 to the DMA4 for finalization.

FIG. 14 shows data structures of a rewritable optical disc 400 and awrite-once read-many optical disc after finalization for comparison.

By performing the finalization procedure of FIG. 13, the data structureof the DMA1 to the DMA4 provided in a write-once read-many optical discafter finalization is the same as the data structure of the DMA1 to theDMA4 provided in the rewritable optical disc 400. Thus, data can bereproduced from the finalized write-once read-many optical disc by therewritable optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 200 of FIG. 24,resulting in a compatible optical disc for reproduction.

Note that generally, in finalization, information having the samecontents as those of a defect list 15 recorded in a recorded defectmanagement working area neighboring a border between the recorded defectmanagement working area and an unrecorded defect management working areais recorded in a defect management working area. Therefore, in anapparatus capable of handling the data structure of the write-onceread-many optical disc of the present invention, if the contents of thelatest defect management working area 21 can be obtained, it is notnecessary to obtain the contents of the DMA1 to the DMA4, so that a timerequired for obtaining defect management information can be reduced.Even when recording of a DDS 14 and a defect list 15 into the DMA1 tothe DMA4 is totally failed, data can be reproduced from the write-onceread-many optical disc 1 by obtaining a DDS 14 and a defect list 15 fromthe latest defect management working area 21.

Thus, according to the finalization of the present invention, the datastructure of a finalized write-once read-many optical disc is the sameas the data structure of a rewritable optical disc. As a result, arewritable optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus can reproducedata from a finalized write-once read-many optical disc, therebyobtaining compatibility.

In the example of FIG. 13, the defect management information writingsection 162 functions as “a section for recording the last discmanagement information into at least one disc management area” and “asection for recording the last disc definition structure into at leastone disc management area based on the last disc management information”.However, the defect management information writing section 162 onlyshows an exemplary portion of the function of the present invention. Asection having any constitution may be employed as long as theabove-described function can be achieved.

Note that the write-once read-many optical disc 1 can be finalized byrecording a finalization identifying flag onto the write-once read-manyoptical disc 1.

For example, the defect management working information writing section166 records the finalization identifying flag into at least one of adisc definition structure 14 and a defect list 15.

FIG. 15 shows another finalization procedure according to Embodiment 1of the present invention. The other finalization is performed byrecording a finalization identifying flag into the write-once read-manyoptical disc 1 of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the other finalization procedure according to Embodiment 1of the present invention will be described step by step with referenceto FIG. 15.

Step 2201: a finalization identifying flag is recorded onto thewrite-once read-many optical disc 1. The finalization identifying flagis recorded at a predetermined position on the write-once read-manyoptical disc 1. The predetermined position is any position from whichthe optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus of the presentinvention can read the finalization identifying flag.

If the predetermined position is a defect management working area 21,the defect management working information writing section 166 recordsthe finalization identifying flag into at least one of a disc definitionstructure 14 and a defect list 15 in a defect management working area21. In this case, the defect management working information readingsection 165 reads the finalization identifying flag.

After the finalization identifying flag is recorded into at least one ofa disc definition structure 14 and a defect list 15, the process isended.

1.6. Finalization Determination

FIG. 16 shows a finalization determination procedure for determiningwhether or not the write-once read-many optical disc 1 is alreadyfinalized. Hereinafter, the finalization determination procedure (step2301 to step 2303) for determining whether or not the write-onceread-many optical disc 1 is already finalized will be described step bystep with reference to FIG. 16.

Note that in step 2301 to step 2303, the last defect list 15 is thelatest defect list 15 provided in at least one defect management area;the last disc definition structure 14 is a disc definition structure 14containing positional information about the last defect list 15; and thelatest defect list 15 is a defect list 15 which is recorded in arecorded defect management working area neighboring a border between therecorded defect management working area and an unrecorded defectmanagement working area.

Step 2301: the defect management information reading section 161 selectsone of at least one defect management areas allocated in the write-onceread-many optical disc 1. After one of at least one defect managementareas is selected, the process goes to step 2302.

Step 2302: the defect management information reading section 161 readsout data from one of the at least one defect management areas allocatedin the write-once read-many optical disc 1 and determines whether or notthe defect management area has been recorded. For example, the defectmanagement information reading section 161 reads out data from one ofthe DMA1 to the DMA4, and based on the result of reading, determineswhether or not the last defect list and the last DDS are recorded in oneof the DMA1 to the DMA4.

If the amplitude value of a read signal indicating the result of readingdata is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, it isdetermined that the defect management area has been recorded. If theamplitude value of a read signal indicating the result of reading datadoes not exceed the predetermined threshold value, it is determined thatthe defect management area is unrecorded. For example, data is read fromthe DMA1, and based on the result of reading, it is determined whetheror not the DMA1 has been recorded.

Data to be read out is not limited to the last defect list 15 and thelast DDS 14. The contents of the data are not particularly limited aslong as the data is used to determine whether or not a defect managementarea has been recorded in accordance with the procedure described withreference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

The procedure for determining whether or not a defect management areahas been recorded is similar to the procedure described in FIGS. 6 and 7and the description is omitted. Note that in the procedure described inFIGS. 6 and 7 the defect management working information reading section165 examines amplitude, while in the finalization determinationprocedure the defect management information reading section 161 examinesamplitude.

Note that the procedure for determining whether or not a defectmanagement area has been recorded is not limited to the proceduredescribed in FIGS. 6 and 7. By examining whether or not data iscorrectly read out, it may be determined whether or not a defectmanagement area has been recorded. For example, based on the result ofexamining whether or not the last defect list 15 or the last DDS 14 iscorrectly read from a defect management area, it is determined whetheror not a defect management area has been recorded.

If a defect management area has been recorded, it is determined that thewrite-once read-many optical disc 1 is changed from a write-onceread-many state to a non-write-once read-many state, and the process isended.

If a defect management area is not recorded, it is determined that thewrite-once read-many optical disc 1 has not been changed from thewrite-once read-many state to the non-write-once read-many state, andthe process goes to step 2303.

Step 2303: the defect management information reading section 161determines whether or not all of the at least one defect managementareas allocated in the write-once read-many optical disc 1 are alreadyselected.

If all of the defect management areas are already selected, it isdetermined that the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has not beenchanged from the write-once read-many state to the non-write-onceread-many state, and the process is ended.

If not all of the defect management areas are already selected, theprocess goes to step 2301.

If it is determined that at least one of the DMA1 to the DMA4 has beenrecorded, it is determined that the write-once read-many optical disc 1has been changed from the write-once read-many state to thenon-write-once read-many state. If it is determined that all of the DMA1to the DMA4 are unrecorded, it is determined that the write-onceread-many optical disc 1 has not been changed from the write-onceread-many state to the non-write-once read-many state.

For example, the defect management information reading section 161 readsout data from at least one of the DMA1 to the DMA4. If data is normallyreproduced, it is determined that the write-once read-many optical disc1 has been finalized. If all of the DMA1 to the DMA4 are unrecorded andtherefore data cannot be normally reproduced from these defectmanagement areas, it is determined that the write-once read-many opticaldisc 1 has not been finalized.

In the embodiment of FIG. 16, step 2302 corresponds to “reading out datafrom one of at least one disc management areas and determining whetheror not the defect management area has been recorded” and step 2303corresponds to “determining, based on the result of the above-describeddetermination, whether or not a write-once read-many informationrecording medium has been changed from a write-once read-many state to anon-write-once read-many state”.

However, a finalization determination procedure for determining whetheror not the write-once read-many optical disc 1 is already finalized isnot limited to that of FIG. 16. Any finalization determination procedurefor determining whether or not the write-once read-many optical disc 1is already finalized can be employed as long as it has functions of“reading out data from one of at least one disc management areas anddetermining whether or not the defect management area has been recorded”and “determining, based on the result of the above-describeddetermination, whether or not a write-once read-many informationrecording medium has been changed from a write-once read-many state to anon-write-once read-many state”.

FIG. 17 shows another finalization determination procedure fordetermining whether or not the write-once read-many optical disc 1 isalready finalized. Hereinafter, the other finalization determinationprocedure for determining whether or not the write-once read-manyoptical disc 1 is already finalized will be described step by step withreference to FIG. 17.

Step 2401: the optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 100 readsout data from the write-once read-many optical disc 1. For example, thedefect management working information reading section 165 reads out datafrom a recorded defect management working area 21 neighboring a borderbetween the recorded defect management working area and an unrecordeddefect management working area. A procedure for reading out data issimilar to that which is described in FIG. 5 and the description isomitted.

After data is read out, the process goes to step 2402.

Step 2402: it is determined whether or not a finalization identifyingflag has been recorded on the write-once read-many optical disc 1. Forexample, based on the read data, the defect management workinginformation reading section 165 determines whether or not thefinalization identifying flag has been recorded at a predeterminedposition in a defect management working area 21. Note that the recordingposition of the finalization identifying flag is not limited to apredetermined position of a defect management working area 21. Therecording position of the finalization identifying flag may be anyposition that can be read out by the optical disc recording/reproductionapparatus 100. The predetermined position may be, for example, at leastone of a disc definition structure 14 and a defect list 15.

Based on the result of determination, it is determined whether or notthe write-once read-many optical disc 1 has been changed from awrite-once read-many state to a non-write-once read-many state.

If a finalization identifying flag has been recorded, it is determinedthat the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has been changed from thewrite-once read-many state to the non-write-once read-many state and theprocess is ended.

If a finalization identifying flag has not been recorded, it isdetermined that the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has not beenchanged from the write-once read-many state to the non-write-onceread-many state and the process is ended.

For example, when a finalization identifying flag is read from at leastone of a disc definition structure 14 and a defect list 15, the defectmanagement working information reading section 165 determines that thewrite-once read-many optical disc 1 has been finalized.

In the embodiment of FIG. 17, step 2402 corresponds to “determiningwhether or not a finalization identifying flag indicating prohibition ofadditional recording of data into at least one disc management workingarea is recorded in a write-once read-many information recording medium”and “determining, based on the result of the above-describeddetermination, whether or not the write-once read-many informationrecording medium has been changed from a write-once read-many state to anon-write-once read-many state”.

However, the other finalization determination procedure for determiningwhether or not the write-once read-many optical disc 1 has beenfinalized is not limited to that of FIG. 17. Any finalizationdetermination procedure for determining whether or not the write-onceread-many optical disc 1 has been finalized can be employed as long asit has functions of “determining whether or not a finalizationidentifying flag indicating prohibition of additional recording of datainto at least one disc management working area is recorded in awrite-once read-many information recording medium” and “determining,based on the result of the above-described determination, whether or notthe write-once read-many information recording medium has been changedfrom a write-once read-many state to a non-write-once read-many state”.

Note that Embodiment 1 of the present invention is described assumingthat each of a defect list (DFL) 15 and a disc definition structure(DDS) 14 has a block unit which is a unit for error correction. If thesize of a DDS 14 or the size of a DFL 15 is less than the block size,the blank portion of a block is recorded with meaningless data (e.g., 0)to fill the block.

A DFL 15 and a DDS 14 are provided in different blocks in the foregoingdescription. However, if a DDS 14 is located at a predetermined positionin a predetermined block, which can be calculated based on a border,among blocks contained in a recorded defect management working areaneighboring the border, a DFL 15 and a DDS 14 may share at least oneblocks. For example, a DDS 14 may be located at a predetermined positionin the last block of a DFL 15. As long as the position of a DDS 14 isuniquely determined based on a recording end, it is possible to easilyfind the latest DDS 14 and DFL 15.

In Embodiment 1 of the present invention, a block which is a unit forerror correction is described as a unit for recording/reproduction anddefect management. However, for example, a sector which is an accessibleminimum unit (1 sector has a size of 2 KBytes) may be employed as a unitfor recording/reproduction and defect management in the presentinvention. Such modification can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention. Modifications and variationsobvious to those skilled in the art are within the scope of the claimsof the present invention.

In Embodiment 1 of the present invention, a defect management workingarea 21 contains a defect list 15 (i.e., child information) and a DDS 14(i.e., parent information) containing positional information about thedefect list 15. However, the number of pieces of child information isnot limited to one as long as the parent information contains positionalinformation about the child information. A plurality of pieces of childinformation may be present in a defect management working area 21. Inother words, parent information may contain positional information abouta plurality of pieces of child information. In this case, the sameeffect can be obtained.

Embodiment 2

2.1. Optical Disc Data Structure

A write-once read-many optical disc 300 according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention has the same data structure as that of Embodiment 1 ofthe present invention, except for the defect management working area 21(DMWA). The description is omitted except for that of the defectmanagement working area 21 (DMWA).

FIG. 18 shows a data structure of a DMWA according to Embodiment 2 ofthe present invention.

A DMWA contains M blocks (M is an integer of 1 or more). In each of theM blocks, a subsidiary defect list (hereinafter also referred to as“SDFL”) 18 and a subsidiary disc definition structure (hereinafter alsoreferred to as “SDDS”) 19 are provided.

A SDDS 19 is information having a fixed size (e.g., 1 sector (2KBytes)). A SDDS 19 is located at a predetermined position (e.g., theend sector of a block) in each block contained in a DMWA.

The size of a SDDS 19 is the same as that of a disc definition structure(DDS) 14.

Note that the size of a SDDS 19 is not limited to the size of a DDS 14.

Note that a SDDS 19 may not have a fixed length as long as a SDDS 19 islocated at a predetermined position of each block.

If the size of a defect list (DFL) 15 is added to the size of a SDDS 19and the sum exceeds the size of 1 block, the DFL 15 is divided intoSDFLs 18 so that the size of a SDDS 19 plus the size of SDFL(s) 18 iswithin the size of 1 block. A combination of all SDFLs 18 is a DFL 15.

A SDFL 18 is a division of a DFL 15. Therefore, defect list header 32 islocated at a predetermined position in any of SDFLs 18 (e.g., thebeginning of a SDFL #1).

The size of a DFL 15 is a variable length, so that the number of SDFLs18 and the size of a SDFL 18 are variable. The addition of the size of aSDFL 18 and the size of a SDDS 19 is necessarily within the size of 1block.

Here, if the addition of the size of a SDFL 18 and the size of a SDDS 19is less than the size of 1 block, the blank portion of a block isrecorded with meaningless data (e.g., 0) to fill the block.

FIG. 19 shows a structure of a SDDS 19.

A SDDS 19 contains subsidiary defect list beginning positionalinformation 34 which is positional information about all SDFLs 18present in a DMWA.

Note that a SDDS 19 may contain subsidiary defect list beginningpositional information 34 for not all SDFLs 18. For example, a SDDS 19may contain subsidiary defect list beginning positional information 34only about a beginning SDFL 18, an end SDFL 18, and SDFL(s) 18constituting the same block.

2.2. Configuration of an Optical Disc Recording/Reproduction Apparatus

An optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus according to Embodiment2 of the present invention has the same configuration as that of theoptical disc recording/reproduction apparatus 100 according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention and the description is omitted.

2.3. Obtaining Latest Defect Management Information

A method for obtaining (reproducing) information (a SDDS and a SDFLrecorded in a recorded defect management working area neighboring aborder between the recorded defect management working area and theunrecorded defect management working area) recorded in a write-onceread-many optical disc 300 according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention, will be described below.

FIG. 20 shows a procedure for obtaining a SDDS 19 and a SDFL 18 from thelatest recorded defect management working area 21 among the defectmanagement working areas 21 contained in the temporary defect managementarea 20. Hereinafter, this procedure will be described step by step withreference to FIG. 20.

Step 1901: the defect management working information reading section 165searches for the position of a border between a recorded defectmanagement working area and an unrecorded defect management working areato obtain border positional information indicating the border position.

For example, the defect management working information reading section165 searches the recording end position of the temporary defectmanagement area 20 and stores the position of a defect managementworking area 21 located at the recording end position into the defectmanagement information control memory 163 at the recording end position40. After the position of the defect management working area 21 at therecording end position is stored, the process goes to step 1902.

Note that a procedure for searching for the recording end position isthe same as the procedure described in Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 and the description isomitted.

Step 1902: the defect management working information reading section 165reproduces a SDDS 19 from a block contained in a recorded defectmanagement working area neighboring a border based on border positionalinformation, and based on the reproduced SDDS 19, obtains positionalinformation about a SDFL 18.

For example, the defect management working information reading section165 reads out a SDDS 19 having a fixed length located at a predeterminedposition in a block which ends at the recording end position 40 into thedefect management information storage buffer 140, and stores allsubsidiary defect list beginning positional information 34 in the SDDS19 into the defect management information control memory 163 at a SDFLbeginning position 42. After all subsidiary defect list beginningpositional information 34 in the SDDS 19 is stored, the process goes tostep 1903.

Step 1903: the defect management working information reading section 165determines whether or not a recorded defect management working area isan area in which recording has been normally completed, based onpositional information about a SDFL 18 contained in a SDDS 19.

For example, the defect management working information reading section165 uses positional information about the SDFL beginning position 42 todetermine whether or not a DMWA containing a SDDS 19 in which readinghas been performed is a normal defect management working area.

For example, by comparing positional information about a SDFL 18 withpositional information about a border between a recorded defectmanagement working area and an unrecorded defect management workingarea, the defect management working information reading section 165determines whether or not the recorded defect management working area isan area in which recording has been normally completed.

Specifically, for example, if no address greater than the recording endposition 40 is present in the positional information about the SDFLbeginning position 42, a DMWA to be read out is determined to be normal.If an address greater than the recording end position 40 is present, aDMWA to be read out is determined to be abnormal.

Note that the above-described determination method is only illustrative.A method for determining whether or not a DMWA is normal is not limitedto this.

If a recorded defect management working area is an area in whichrecording has not been completed normally, the position of a borderbetween a recorded defect management working area neighboring the borderand a recorded defect management working area neighboring the recordeddefect management working area is searched for based on positionalinformation about a SDFL 18.

For example, if a DMWA to be read out is determined to be abnormal, anormal DMWA which is present immediately before a current DMWA to beread out in a direction toward the beginning of the temporary defectmanagement area 20, i.e., a DMWA whose end is located immediately beforethe SDFL beginning position 42 indicating the subsidiary defect list #1beginning positional information 34, is read out.

A DMWA from which data is currently being read is determined to beabnormal, for example, when a DMWA which has not been completely updatedsince, for example, the optical disc recording/reproduction apparatus100 had been shut down during updating of the DMWA or when the DMWA hasa defect, such as a scar, a fingerprint, or the like.

If a DMWA is determined to be a normal defect management working area,the process goes to step 1904.

If a DMWA is determined to be not a normal defect management workingarea, the process goes to step 1902.

Step 1904: the defect management working information reading section 165reproduces a SDFL 18 from each of a plurality of blocks contained in arecorded defect management working area neighboring a border, based onpositional information about the SDFL 18.

For example, the defect management working information reading section165 reads out all SDFLs 18 located beginning from the SDFL beginningposition 42 into the defect management information storage buffer 140.

Here, if the recording end position 40 indicates that no temporarydefect management area 20 has been recorded, no reading has to beperformed in step 1902, step 1903 and step 1904. Instead of reading, aDDS 14 and a defect list 15 may be stored in the defect managementinformation storage buffer 140 in advance. Note that the stored DDS 14contains the defect list beginning positional information 30 which hasbeen initialized to a predetermined value, and in the stored defect list15, the number of defect entries in the defect list header 32 has beeninitialized (the number of defect entries=0), i.e., the stored defectlist 15 has no defect entry 33.

Note that the defect management information storage buffer 140 mayretain all SDFLs 18, which have been read out, as a combination whichforms a DFL 15 or as they are. In Embodiment 2 of the present invention,all SDFLs 18, which have been read out, are combined into a DFL 15 andare retained.

In Embodiment 2 of FIG. 20, step 1901 corresponds to “searching for theposition of a border between a recorded disc management working area andan unrecorded disc management working area to obtain border positionalinformation indicating the border position”, step 1902 corresponds to“reproducing a disc definition structure from a recorded disc managementworking area neighboring the border, based on the border positionalinformation” and “obtaining positional information about partial discmanagement information, based on the disc definition structure”, andstep 1904 corresponds to “reproducing partial disc managementinformation from each of a plurality of blocks contained in the recordeddisc management working area neighboring the border, based on positionalinformation about the partial disc management information”.

However, a procedure for obtaining a SDDS 19 and a SDFL 18 from thelatest recorded defect management working area 21 among the defectmanagement working areas 21 contained in the temporary defect managementarea 20 is not limited to that of FIG. 20. Any procedure for obtaining aSDDS 19 and a SDFL 18 from the latest recorded defect management workingarea 21 among the defect management working areas 21 contained in thetemporary defect management area 20 may be employed as long as it hasfunctions of “searching for the position of a border between a recordeddisc management working area and an unrecorded disc management workingarea to obtain border positional information indicating the borderposition”, “reproducing a disc definition structure from a recorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border, based on the borderpositional information” and “obtaining positional information relatingpartial disc management information, based on the disc definitionstructure”, and “reproducing partial disc management information fromeach of a plurality of blocks contained in the recorded disc managementworking area neighboring the border, based on positional informationabout the partial disc management information”.

Thus, according to the present invention, by locating a SDDS containingpositional information about a SDFL at a predetermined position in allblocks contained in a DMWA, it is possible to easily determine, frominformation in the SDDS, whether or not the DMWA has been normallyupdated. Even if updating of the DMWA has failed, positional informationof a normal DMWA present immediately before that DMWA can be easilycalculated.

2.4. Update of Defect Management Information

A method for recording information (SDFL and SDDS) onto the write-onceread-many optical disc 300 according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention will be described below.

FIG. 21 shows a procedure for additionally recording a SDFL 18 and aSDDS 19 into a defect management working area 21 of the write-onceread-many optical disc 300 according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention.

The defect management working information writing section 166additionally records a SDFL 18 and a SDDS 19 into a defect managementworking area 21.

Here, the contents of a defect list 15 stored in the defect managementinformation storage buffer 140 is permitted by the defect managementinformation updating section 164 to retain the latest contents.

Specifically, for example, if a defect block is newly detected, thedefect management information updating section 164 adds a defect entrycorresponding to a new replacement block (i.e., a new defect block) tothe defect list 15 stored in the defect management information storagebuffer 140, and sorts defect entries in accordance with positionalinformation about the defect block contained in the defect entry.Further, the defect management information updating section 164increases the number of defect entries in a defect list header by one.

Hereinafter, a procedure for additionally recording a SDFL 18 and a SDDS19 into a defect management working area 21 of the write-once read-manyoptical disc 300 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention willbe described step by step with reference to FIG. 21.

Step 2001: the defect management information updating section 164calculates the size of the latest DFL 15 stored in the defect managementinformation storage buffer 140 and determines whether or not theaddition of the size of a SDDS 19 (fixed size) and the size of thelatest DFL 15 exceeds the size of 1 block.

If the size of the addition exceeds the size of 1 block, the DFL 15 isdivided into a plurality of subsidiary defect lists 18.

If the size of the addition is smaller than or equal to the size of 1block, the DFL 15 itself is defined as a subsidiary defect list 18#1.

The size of a subsidiary defect list 18 is determined so that themaximum size of the addition of the size of a subsidiary defect list 18and the size of a SDDS 19 (fixed size) is the size of 1 block.

Specifically, it is now assumed that the optical disc 300 is a DVD-RAMand the size of 1 block is 1 ECC block (=16 sectors) which is a unit forerror correction. If the size of a SDDS 19 is 1 sector, the size of asubsidiary defect list 18 is 15 sectors at maximum.

Step 2002: the defect management information updating section 164selects an unrecorded defect management working area neighboring aborder between a recorded defect management working area and theunrecorded defect management working area.

For example, the defect management information updating section 164selects an unrecorded defect management working area located at thebeginning of a plurality of unrecorded defect management working areasby updating a SDDS 19 contained in the defect management informationstorage buffer 140 defect management information control memory 163where a position obtained by adds to one the recording end position 40,i.e., the beginning position of an unrecorded area is regarded as thesubsidiary defect list #1 beginning positional information 34. If thereare M subsidiary defect lists 18 (M is an integer of 2 or more),subsidiary defect list beginning positional information 34 correspondingto each subsidiary defect list 18 contained in a SDDS 19 is updated.

Here, subsidiary defect list #2 beginning positional information, . . ., and subsidiary defect list #M beginning positional information can becalculated using the subsidiary defect list #1 beginning positionalinformation and the block size. Specifically, for example, thesubsidiary defect list #2 beginning positional information can becalculated as a position obtained by adding to 1 block size to aposition indicated by the subsidiary defect list #1 beginning positionalinformation.

Step 2003: the defect management working information writing section 166records a SDFL 18 contained in a defect list 15, which is managementinformation about a write-once read-many optical disc, and a SDDS 19containing positional information about the SDFL 18, into each of aplurality of blocks contained in the unrecorded defect managementworking area neighboring the border.

For example, the defect management working information writing section166 records an updated SDFL 18 and an updated SDDS 19 contained in thedefect management information storage buffer 140 into the unrecordedarea from the beginning position. If there are M SDFLs 18, M updatedSDFLs 18 and M updated SDDSs 19 are recorded.

Here, when a SDDS 19 contains subsidiary defect list beginningpositional information 34 for all SDFLs 18, the contents of the SDDSs 19recorded along with the SDFLs 18 are the same for all the SDFLs 18.However, for example, if a SDDS 19 contains subsidiary defect listbeginning positional information 34 about a beginning SDFL 18,subsidiary defect list beginning positional information 34 about an endSDFL 18, and subsidiary defect list beginning positional information 34about SDFL(S) 18 contained in the same block, only the subsidiary defectlist beginning positional information 34 about SDFL(s) 18 contained inthe same block have different contents.

Also in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, a SDFL 18 and a SDDS 19can be recorded while determining whether or not recording has beenperformed normally as in Embodiment 1 of the present invention describedin FIG. 10. In Embodiment 2 of the present invention, when a SDFL 18 anda SDDS 19 can be recorded while determining whether or not recording hasbeen normally performed, step 2003 is repeatedly performed until theSDFL 18 and the SDDS 19 are normally recorded.

As in Embodiment 1 of the present invention described in FIG. 10, when aDMWA is updated while determining whether or not recording has beennormally performed, if a defect block is encountered during the process,it is possible that subsidiary defect list beginning positionalinformation 34 indicated by a SDDS 19 in a previously recorded blockdoes not match a position at which a subsidiary defect list 18 isactually recorded. However, in this case, by updating the contents ofthe SDDS 19 in the defect management information storage buffer 140 sothat the contents of the SDDS 19 contained in the latest recorded block(i.e., a block located at the recording end position) are correct,matching can be achieved, thereby making it possible to avoid theabove-described problem.

With the above-described procedure, the defect management workinginformation writing section 166 can record the latest defect list 15 andDDS 14 into a defect management working area 21 contained in thetemporary defect management area 20.

In Embodiment 2 of FIG. 21, step 2002 corresponds to “selecting anunrecorded disc management working area neighboring a border between arecorded disc management working area and the unrecorded disc managementworking area”, step 2003 corresponds to “recording partial discmanagement information contained in disc management information, whichis management information about a write-once read-many informationrecording medium, into each of a plurality of blocks contained in theunrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border” and“recording a disc definition structure contained in positionalinformation about partial disc management information into each of aplurality of blocks contained in the unrecorded disc management workingarea border neighboring the border”.

However, a procedure for additionally recording a SDFL 18 and a SDDS 19into a defect management working area 21 of the write-once read-manyoptical disc 300 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention isnot limited to that of FIG. 21. Any procedure for additionally recordinga SDFL 18 and a SDDS 19 into a defect management working area 21 of thewrite-once read-many optical disc 300 according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention can be employed as long as it has functions of“selecting an unrecorded disc management working area neighboring aborder between a recorded disc management working area and theunrecorded disc management working area”, “recording partial discmanagement information contained in disc management information, whichis management information about a write-once read-many informationrecording medium, into each of a plurality of blocks contained in theunrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border” and“recording a disc definition structure contained in positionalinformation about partial disc management information into each of aplurality of blocks contained in the unrecorded disc management workingarea border neighboring the border”.

2.5. Finalization

A finalization procedure according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention is the same as the finalization procedure according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention and the description is omitted. Inthe finalization procedure according to Embodiment 2 of the presentinvention, subsidiary defect list beginning positional information 34contained in a SDDS 19 of Embodiment 2 of the present inventionsubstitutes for defect list beginning positional information 30contained in a DDS 14 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention and thefinalization procedure of Embodiment 1 of the present invention isperformed.

2.6. Finalization Determination

A finalization determination procedure according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention is the same as the finalization determinationprocedure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention and thedescription is omitted.

Thus, according to the present invention, even when update of a defectmanagement working area 21 is incomplete since the power is cut or thelike, it is correctly determined that update has failed. Therefore, itis possible to easily find the beginning position of a defect managementworking area 21 in which update has failed. Therefore, it is possible toeasily obtain a defect list 15 in the latest normal defect managementworking area 21.

In Embodiment 2 of the present invention, a block which is a unit oferror correction is described as a unit of reproduction/recording anddefect management. Alternatively, for example, a sector which is thesmallest addressable unit (1 sector has a size of 2 KBytes) may be usedas a unit of reproduction/recording and defect management. It will beclearly appreciated that such variations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Although a defect list 15 or a subsidiary defect list 18 (i.e., childinformation) and a DDS 14 or a SDDS 19 (i.e., parent information)containing positional information about the defect list 15 or thesubsidiary defect list 18 are provided in a defect management workingarea 21 in Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention, informationprovided is not limited to a defect list 15 or a subsidiary defect list18 and a DDS 14 or a SDDS 19.

For example, when the information provided is disc managementinformation, which is management information about a disc, and a discdefinition structure containing positional information about the discmanagement information, at least one defect management working area isallocated sequentially in a predetermined direction. When the latestdisc management information and the latest disc definition structure arelocated in this order along the predetermined direction in a recordeddisc management working area neighboring a border between the recordeddisc management working area and an unrecorded defect management workingarea, it is possible to easily search for the latest disc managementinformation. Thus, the effect of the present invention can be obtained.

For example, the information provided may be a replacement list and aDDS containing positional information about the replacement list. Thereplacement list contains correspondence relationship informationindicating a correspondence relationship between an area (replacementsource) contained in a data area and an area (replacement destination)contained in a spare area.

In Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention, a defect managementworking area 21 contains a defect list 15 or a subsidiary defect list 18(i.e., child information) and a DDS 14 or a SDDS 19 (i.e., parentinformation) containing positional information about the defect list 15.However, the number of pieces of child information is not limited to oneas long as the parent information contains positional information aboutthe child information. A plurality of pieces of child information may bepresent in a defect management working area 21. In other words, parentinformation may contain positional information about a plurality ofpieces of child information. The plurality of pieces of childinformation may not be necessarily of the same type.

FIG. 22 shows an exemplary defect management working area in which aspace bit map information and a defect list are provided as childinformation.

In a defect management working area 21, space bit map information and adefect list are provided as child information. A DDS (parentinformation) may contain positional information about these two piecesof child information. In this case, if a DDS indicating positionalinformation about child information (i.e., parent information) islocated at a predetermined position which can be calculated based on aborder between a recorded defect management working area and anunrecorded defect management working area (the end of the recordeddefect management working area or the beginning of the recorded defectmanagement working area), it is possible to easily find the latest childinformation. Thus, the effect of the present invention can be obtained.

When a defect block is present in a recorded defect management workingarea 21 as described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, if a recordingend position is only searched for by the procedure described in FIGS. 6and 7, it is possible that a defect block is incorrectly determined tobe an unrecorded area. Therefore, recording end positional informationobtained by the procedure described in FIGS. 6 and 7 is compared withretained information to determine whether or not the recording endpositional information is the beginning position of an appropriateunrecorded area, for example. Thus, erroneous determination can beavoided. Here, the retained information means recording end positionalinformation (LRA) made in the previous recording of a temporary defectmanagement area 20, positional information about a defect block, or thelike, which is retained at a predetermined position on a medium or amemory (nonvolatile) in an optical disc recording/reproductionapparatus, for example.

In the foregoing description of the present invention, a write-onceread-many optical disc is employed as an information recording medium.However, an information recording medium is not limited to a write-onceread-many optical disc. Any write-once read-many information recordingmedium may be employed, and in this case, the same effect as that of theabove-described embodiments of the present invention can be obtained.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided afinalization determination method for determining whether or not awrite-once read-many information recording medium is already finalized,wherein:

at least one disc management working area is allocated on the write-onceread-many information recording medium;

the finalization determination method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining whether or not a finalization identifying flag isrecorded on the write-once read-many information recording medium, thefinalization identifying flag indicating prohibition of additionalrecording data into the at least one disc management working area; and

(b) determining, based on a result of the step (a), whether or not thewrite-once read-many information recording medium is changed from awrite-once read-many state to a non-write-once read-many state.

In one embodiment of this invention, in the at least one disc managementworking area, disc management information, which is managementinformation about the write-once read-many information recording medium,and a disc definition structure containing positional information aboutthe disc management information, are provided; and

the step (a) comprises determining whether or not the finalizationidentifying flag is recorded in at least one of the disc definitionstructure and the disc management information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda finalization determination method for determining whether or not awrite-once read-many information recording medium is already finalized,wherein:

at least one disc management working area and at least one discmanagement area are allocated on the write-once read-many informationrecording medium;

in the at least one disc management working area, disc managementinformation, which is management information about the write-onceread-many information recording medium, and a disc definition structurecontaining positional information about the disc management information,are recorded; and

the finalization determination method comprising the steps of:

(a) reading data from one of the at least one disc management areas anddetermining whether or not the one of the at least one disc managementareas is recorded; and

(b) determining, based on a result of the step (a), whether or not thewrite-once read-many information recording medium is changed from awrite-once read-many state to a non-write-once read-many state.

In one embodiment of this invention, the step (a) comprises determiningwhether or not the one of the at least one disc management areas isrecorded, depending on an amplitude of a read signal indicating a resultof the reading of the data.

In one embodiment of this invention, the step (a) comprises determiningwhether or not the one of the at least one disc management areas isrecorded, depending on whether or not the data is correctly read out.

In one embodiment of this invention, the step (a) comprises reading datafrom one of the at least one disc management areas, and based on aresult of the reading of the data, determining whether or not last discmanagement information and last disc definition structure are recordedin the at least one disc management area;

the last disc management information is a latest disc managementinformation provided in the at least one disc management area;

the last disc definition structure is a disc definition structurecontaining positional information about the last disc managementinformation; and

the latest disc management information is disc management informationrecorded in a recorded disc management working area neighboring a borderbetween the recorded disc management working area and an unrecorded discmanagement working area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the step (a) comprises determiningwhether or not the one of the at least one disc management areas isrecorded, based on whether or not the last disc management informationor the last disc definition structure is correctly read out;

the last disc management information is latest disc managementinformation provided in the at least one disc management area;

the last disc definition structure is a disc definition structurecontaining positional information about the last disc managementinformation; and

the latest disc management information is disc management informationrecorded in a recorded disc management working area neighboring a borderbetween the recorded disc management working area and an unrecorded discmanagement working area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the step (a) comprises reading datafrom each of the at least one disc management area and determiningwhether or not each of the at least one disc management area isrecorded; and

the step (b) comprises determining that the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium is changed from a write-once read-manystate to a non-write-once read-many state when it is determined that atleast one of the at least one disc management areas is recorded, anddetermines that the write-once read-many information recording medium isnot changed from a write-once read-many state to a non-write-onceread-many state when all of the at least one disc management areas areunrecorded.

In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management area is adefect management area for recording management information about adefect area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda finalization determination apparatus for determining whether or not awrite-once read-many information recording medium is already finalized,wherein:

at least one disc management working area is allocated on the write-onceread-many information recording medium;

the finalization determination apparatus comprising:

(a) a section for determining whether or not a finalization identifyingflag is recorded on the write-once read-many information recordingmedium, the finalization identifying flag indicating prohibition ofadditional recording data into the at least one disc management workingarea; and

(b) a section for determining, based on a result of determination by thesection (a), whether or not the write-once read-many informationrecording medium is changed from a write-once read-many state to anon-write-once read-many state.

In one embodiment of this invention, in the at least one disc managementworking area, disc management information, which is managementinformation about the write-once read-many information recording medium,and a disc definition structure containing positional information aboutthe disc management information, are provided; and

the section (a) comprises a section for determining whether or not thefinalization identifying flag is recorded in at least one of the discdefinition structure and the disc management information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda finalization determination apparatus for determining whether or not awrite-once read-many information recording medium is already finalized,wherein:

at least one disc management working area and at least one discmanagement area are allocated on the write-once read-many informationrecording medium;

in the at least one disc management working area, disc managementinformation, which is management information about the write-onceread-many information recording medium, and a disc definition structurecontaining positional information about the disc management information,are recorded; and

the finalization determination apparatus comprising:

(a) a section for reading data from one of the at least one discmanagement areas and determining whether or not the one of the at leastone disc management areas is recorded; and

(b) a section for determining, based on a result of determination by thesection (a), whether or not the write-once read-many informationrecording medium is changed from a write-once read-many state to anon-write-once read-many state.

In one embodiment of this invention, the section (a) comprises a sectionfor determining whether or not the one of the at least one discmanagement areas is recorded, depending on an amplitude of a read signalindicating a result of the reading of the data.

In one embodiment of this invention, the section (a) comprises a sectionfor determining whether or not the one of the at least one discmanagement areas is recorded, depending on whether or not the data iscorrectly read out.

In one embodiment of this invention, the section (a) comprises a sectionfor reading data from one of the at least one disc management areas, andbased on a result of the reading of the data, determining whether or notlast disc management information and last disc definition structure arerecorded in the at least one disc management area;

the last disc management information is a latest disc managementinformation provided in the at least one disc management area;

the last disc definition structure is a disc definition structurecontaining positional information about the last disc managementinformation; and

the latest disc management information is disc management informationrecorded in a recorded disc management working area neighboring a borderbetween the recorded disc management working area and an unrecorded discmanagement working area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the section (a) comprises a sectionfor determining whether or not the one of the at least one discmanagement areas is recorded, based on whether or not the last discmanagement information or the last disc definition structure iscorrectly read out;

the last disc management information is latest disc managementinformation provided in the at least one disc management area;

the last disc definition structure is a disc definition structurecontaining positional information about the last disc managementinformation; and

the latest disc management information is disc management informationrecorded in a recorded disc management working area neighboring a borderbetween the recorded disc management working area and an unrecorded discmanagement working area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the section (a) comprises a sectionfor reading data from each of the at least one disc management area anddetermining whether or not each of the at least one disc management areais recorded; and

the section (b) comprises a section for determining that the write-onceread-many information recording medium is changed from a write-onceread-many state to a non-write-once read-many state when it isdetermined that at least one of the at least one disc management areasis recorded, and determines that the write-once read-many informationrecording medium is not changed from a write-once read-many state to anon-write-once read-many state when all of the at least one discmanagement areas are unrecorded.

In one embodiment of this invention, the disc management area is adefect management area for recording management information about adefect area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda finalization method for finalizing a write-once read-many informationrecording medium, wherein:

at least one disc management working area is allocated on the write-onceread-many information recording medium; and

the finalization method comprising the steps of:

(a) recording a finalization identifying flag onto the write-onceread-many information recording medium, the finalization identifyingflag indicating prohibition of additional recording data into the atleast one disc management working area.

In one embodiment of this invention, in the at least one disc managementworking area, disc management information, which is managementinformation about the write-once read-many information recording medium,and a disc definition structure containing positional information aboutthe disc management information, are provided; and

the step (a) comprises recording the finalization identifying flag intoat least one of the disc definition structure and the disc managementinformation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda finalization method for finalizing a write-once read-many informationrecording medium, wherein:

at least one disc management working area and at least one discmanagement area are allocated on the write-once read-many informationrecording medium;

in the at least one disc management working area, disc managementinformation, which is management information about the write-onceread-many information recording medium, and a disc definition structurecontaining positional information about the disc management information,are recorded; and

the finalization method comprising the steps of:

(a) recording last disc management information into one of the at leastone disc management areas; and

(b) recording, based on the last disc management information, a lastdisc definition structure into the one of the at least one discmanagement areas;

the last disc management information is a latest disc managementinformation provided in the at least one disc management area;

the last disc definition structure is a disc definition structurecontaining positional information about the last disc managementinformation;

the latest disc management information is disc management informationrecorded in a recorded disc management working area neighboring a borderbetween the recorded disc management working area and an unrecorded discmanagement working area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the finalization method furthercomprises changing latest disc definition structure to the last discdefinition structure by changing positional information indicating aposition of the recorded disc management working area neighboring theborder to positional information indicating a position of one of the atleast one disc management areas,

wherein the latest disc definition structure includes positionalinformation about the latest disc management information.

In one embodiment of this invention, the finalization method furthercomprises repeating the step (a) and the step (b) for each of the atleast one disc management area to record the last disc managementinformation and the last disc definition structure into all of the atleast one disc management area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda finalization apparatus for finalizing a write-once read-manyinformation recording medium, wherein:

at least one disc management working area is allocated on the write-onceread-many information recording medium; and

the finalization apparatus comprising:

(a) a section for recording a finalization identifying flag onto thewrite-once read-many information recording medium, the finalizationidentifying flag indicating prohibition of additional recording datainto the at least one disc management working area.

In one embodiment of this invention, in the at least one disc managementworking area, disc management information, which is managementinformation about the write-once read-many information recording medium,and a disc definition structure containing positional information aboutthe disc management information, are provided; and

the section (a) comprises a section for recording the finalizationidentifying flag into at least one of the disc definition structure andthe disc management information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda finalization apparatus for finalizing a write-once read-manyinformation recording medium, wherein:

at least one disc management working area and at least one discmanagement area are allocated on the write-once read-many informationrecording medium;

in the at least one disc management working area, disc managementinformation, which is management information about the write-onceread-many information recording medium, and a disc definition structurecontaining positional information about the disc management information,are recorded; and

the finalization apparatus comprising:

(a) a section for recording last disc management information into one ofthe at least one disc management areas; and

(b) a section for recording, based on the last disc managementinformation, a last disc definition structure into the one of the atleast one disc management areas;

the last disc management information is a latest disc managementinformation provided in the at least one disc management area;

the last disc definition structure is a disc definition structurecontaining positional information about the last disc managementinformation;

the latest disc management information is disc management informationrecorded in a recorded disc management working area neighboring a borderbetween the recorded disc management working area and an unrecorded discmanagement working area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the finalization apparatus furthercomprises a section for changing latest disc definition structure to thelast disc definition structure by changing positional informationindicating a position of the recorded disc management working areaneighboring the border to positional information indicating a positionof one of the at least one disc management areas,

wherein the latest disc definition structure includes positionalinformation about the latest disc management information.

In one embodiment of this invention, the finalization method furthercomprises a section for repeatedly performing recording last discmanagement information into one of the at least one disc managementareas, and recording, based on the last disc management information, alast disc definition structure into the one of the at least one discmanagement areas, for each of the at least one disc management area torecord the last disc management information and the last disc definitionstructure into all of the at least one disc management area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda write-once read-many information recording medium, wherein:

at least one disc management working area is sequentially allocated in apredetermined direction,

the at least one disc management working area contains a plurality ofblocks, each block being a unit for recording/reproducing data;

in each of the plurality of blocks, partial disc management informationcontained in disc management information, which is managementinformation about the write-once read-many information recording medium,and a disc definition structure containing positional information aboutthe partial disc management information, are provided; and

the disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position ineach of the plurality of blocks.

In one embodiment of this invention, the partial disc managementinformation and the disc definition structure are provided in each of aplurality of blocks contained in a recorded disc management areaneighboring a border between the recorded disc management working areaand an unrecorded disc management working area.

In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium contains a data area for recording data anda spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area;

the disc management information contains a replacement list containingcorrespondence relationship information indicating a correspondencerelationship between a replacement source area contained in the dataarea and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area; and

in each of the plurality of blocks, a partial replacement list containedin the replacement list, and a disc definition structure containingpositional information about the partial replacement list, are provided.

In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is adirection from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of thewrite-once read-many information recording medium.

In one embodiment of this invention, the predetermined direction is adirection from an outer periphery to an inner periphery of thewrite-once read-many information recording medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan information recording method for recording information onto awrite-once read-many information recording medium, wherein:

at least one disc management working area is sequentially allocated in apredetermined direction on the write-once read-many informationrecording medium; and

the information recording method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting an unrecorded disc management working area neighboring aborder between a recorded disc management working area and theunrecorded disc management working area;

(b) recording partial disc management information contained in discmanagement information, which is management information about thewrite-once read-many information recording medium, into each of aplurality of blocks contained in the unrecorded disc management workingarea neighboring the border; and

(c) recording a disc definition structure containing positionalinformation about the partial disc management information into each of aplurality of blocks contained in the unrecorded disc management workingarea neighboring the border;

each of the plurality of blocks is a unit for recording/reproducingdata; and

the disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position ineach of the plurality of blocks.

In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium contains a data area for recording data anda spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area;

the disc management information contains a replacement list containingcorrespondence relationship information indicating a correspondencerelationship between a replacement source area contained in the dataarea and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area;

in each of the plurality of blocks, a partial replacement list containedin the replacement list, and a disc definition structure containingpositional information about the partial replacement list, are provided.

In one embodiment of this invention, the step (b) further comprisesdetermining whether or not the recording of the partial disc managementinformation has been normally performed;

the step (c) further comprises determining whether or not the recordingof the disc definition structure has been normally performed; and

the information recording method further comprises the step of:

(d) repeatedly performing the step (b) until the recording of thepartial disc management information is normally performed, andrepeatedly performing the step (c) until the recording of the discdefinition structure is normally performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan information reproduction method for reproducing information from awrite-once read-many information recording medium, wherein:

at least one disc management working area is sequentially allocated in apredetermined direction on the write-once read-many informationrecording medium;

the at least one disc management working area contains a plurality ofblocks, each of the plurality of blocks being a unit forrecording/reproducing data;

in each of the plurality of blocks, partial disc management informationcontained in disc management information, which is managementinformation about the write-once read-many information recording medium,and a disc definition structure containing positional information aboutthe partial disc management information, are provided;

the disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position ineach of the plurality of blocks; and

the information reproduction method comprising the steps of:

(a) searching for a position of a border between a recorded discmanagement working area and an unrecorded disc management working areato obtain border positional information indicating the position of theborder;

(b) reproducing the disc definition structure from the recorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border based on the borderpositional information;

(c) obtaining positional information about the partial disc managementinformation based on the disc definition structure; and

(d) reproducing the partial disc management information from each of aplurality of blocks contained in the recorded disc management workingarea neighboring the border based on the positional information aboutthe partial disc management information.

In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium contains a data area for recording data anda spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area;

the disc management information contains a replacement list containingcorrespondence relationship information indicating a correspondencerelationship between a replacement source area contained in the dataarea and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area; and

in each of the plurality of blocks, a partial replacement list containedin the replacement list, and a disc definition structure containingpositional information about the partial replacement list, are provided.

In one embodiment of this invention, the step (c) further comprises thestep of:

(e) determining whether or not the recorded disc management working areais an area in which the recording is normally completed, based on thepositional information about the partial disc management informationcontained in the disc definition structure; and

when it is determined that the recorded disc management working area isan area in which the recording is not normally completed, a position ofa border between the recorded disc management working area neighboringthe border and a recorded disc management working area neighboring therecorded disc management working area neighboring the border, issearched for based on the positional information about the partial discmanagement information.

In one embodiment of this invention, the step (e) comprises determiningwhether or not the recorded disc management working area is an area inwhich the recording is normally completed, by comparing the positionalinformation about the partial disc management information withpositional information about a border between the recorded discmanagement working area and an unrecorded disc management working area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan information recording apparatus for recording information onto awrite-once read-many information recording medium, wherein:

at least one disc management working area is sequentially allocated in apredetermined direction on the write-once read-many informationrecording medium; and

the information recording apparatus comprising:

(a) a section for selecting an unrecorded disc management working areaneighboring a border between a recorded disc management working area andthe unrecorded disc management working area;

(b) a section for recording partial disc management informationcontained in disc management information, which is managementinformation about the write-once read-many information recording medium,into each of a plurality of blocks contained in the unrecorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border; and

(c) a section for recording a disc definition structure containingpositional information about the partial disc management informationinto each of a plurality of blocks contained in the unrecorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border;

each of the plurality of blocks is a unit for recording/reproducingdata; and

the disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position ineach of the plurality of blocks.

In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium contains a data area for recording data anda spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area;

the disc management information contains a replacement list containingcorrespondence relationship information indicating a correspondencerelationship between a replacement source area contained in the dataarea and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area;

in each of the plurality of blocks, a partial replacement list containedin the replacement list, and a disc definition structure containingpositional information about the partial replacement list, are provided.

In one embodiment of this invention, the section (b) further comprises asection for determining whether or not the recording of the partial discmanagement information has been normally performed;

the section (c) further comprises a section for determining whether ornot the recording of the disc definition structure has been normallyperformed; and

the information recording apparatus further comprises:

(d) a section for repeatedly performing recording of the partial discmanagement information until the recording of the partial discmanagement information is normally performed, and repeatedly performingrecording of the disc definition structure until the recording of thedisc definition structure is normally performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan information reproduction apparatus for reproducing information from awrite-once read-many information recording medium, wherein:

at least one disc management working area is sequentially allocated in apredetermined direction on the write-once read-many informationrecording medium;

the at least one disc management working area contains a plurality ofblocks, each of the plurality of blocks being a unit forrecording/reproducing data;

in each of the plurality of blocks, partial disc management informationcontained in disc management information, which is managementinformation about the write-once read-many information recording medium,and a disc definition structure containing positional information aboutthe partial disc management information, are provided;

the disc definition structure is provided at a predetermined position ineach of the plurality of blocks; and

the information reproduction apparatus comprising:

(a) a section for searching for a position of a border between arecorded disc management working area and an unrecorded disc managementworking area to obtain border positional information indicating theposition of the border;

(b) a section for reproducing the disc definition structure from therecorded disc management working area neighboring the border based onthe border positional information;

(c) a section for obtaining positional information about the partialdisc management information based on the disc definition structure; and

(d) a section for reproducing the partial disc management informationfrom each of a plurality of blocks contained in the recorded discmanagement working area neighboring the border based on the positionalinformation about the partial disc management information.

In one embodiment of this invention, the write-once read-manyinformation recording medium contains a data area for recording data anda spare area, the spare area being a replacement area for the data area;

the disc management information contains a replacement list containingcorrespondence relationship information indicating a correspondencerelationship between a replacement source area contained in the dataarea and a replacement destination area contained in the spare area; and

in each of the plurality of blocks, a partial replacement list containedin the replacement list, and a disc definition structure containingpositional information about the partial replacement list, are provided.

In one embodiment of this invention, the section (c) further comprises:

(e) a section for determining whether or not the recorded discmanagement working area is an area in which the recording is normallycompleted, based on the positional information about the partial discmanagement information contained in the disc definition structure; and

when it is determined that the recorded disc management working area isan area in which the recording is not normally completed, a position ofa border between the recorded disc management working area neighboringthe border and a recorded disc management working area neighboring therecorded disc management working area neighboring the border, issearched for based on the positional information about the partial discmanagement information.

In one embodiment of this invention, the section (e) comprises a sectionfor determining whether or not the recorded disc management working areais an area in which the recording is normally completed, by comparingthe positional information about the partial disc management informationwith positional information about a border between the recorded discmanagement working area and an unrecorded disc management working area.

Although certain preferred embodiments have been described herein, it isnot intended that such embodiments be construed as limitations on thescope of the invention except as set forth in the appended claims.Various other modifications and equivalents will be apparent to and canbe readily made by those skilled in the art, after reading thedescription herein, without departing from the scope and spirit of thisinvention. All patents, published patent applications and publicationscited herein are incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In the write-once read-many information recording medium of the presentinvention, at least one defect management working area is sequentiallyallocated in a predetermined direction. The latest defect list and thelatest DDS are provided in the predetermined direction in a recordeddefect management working area neighboring a border between the recordeddefect management working area and an unrecorded defect managementworking area, where the latest defect list precedes the latest DDS inthe predetermined direction. Therefore, it is possible to easily findthe latest DDS and the latest defect list.

By finalization, the data structure of a write-once read-many opticaldisc after finalization is the same as the data structure of arewritable optical disc. As a result, data recorded on a finalizedwrite-once read-many optical disc can be reproduced by a rewritableoptical disc recording/reproduction apparatus, resulting in a compatibleoptical disc for reproduction.

A subsidiary disc definition structure (SDDS) is provided at apredetermined position in each of a plurality of blocks. Therefore, evenwhen update of a defect management working area is incomplete since thepower is cut or the like, it is correctly determined that update hasfailed. Therefore, it is possible to easily find the beginning positionof a defect management working area in which update has failed.Therefore, it is possible to easily obtain a defect list in the latestnormal defect management working area.

According to the information recording method of the present invention,even if a defect block is present in a defect management working areaand therefore recording of a defect list and a DDS fails, recording ofthe defect list and the DDS can be repeatedly performed until recordingof the defect list and the DDS is normally completed. Thus, a defectlist and a DDS can be correctly recorded. As a result, the reliabilityof recording of a defect list and a DDS into a defect management workingarea can be improved.

1. A write-once read-many information recording medium, wherein: atleast one disc management working area is sequentially allocated in apredetermined direction; in the at least one disc management workingarea, disc management information, which is management information aboutthe write-once read-many information recording medium, and discdefinition structure containing positional information about the discmanagement information, are provided; latest disc management informationand latest disc definition structure are provided, wherein the latestdisc management information precedes the latest disc definitionstructure in the predetermined direction; the latest disc managementinformation is disc management information provided in a recorded discmanagement working area neighboring a border between the recorded discmanagement working area and an unrecorded disc management working area;the latest disc definition structure is a disc definition structurecontaining positional information about the latest disc managementinformation; and the latest disc definition structure is provided at apredetermined position in the recorded disc management working areaneighboring the border, the predetermined position being capable ofbeing calculated based on the border as a reference.
 2. An informationrecording apparatus for recording information onto a write-onceread-many information recording medium according to claim 1, theinformation recording apparatus comprising: a section for recording thedisc management information into an unrecorded disc management workingarea neighboring the border between the recorded disc management workingarea and the unrecorded disc management working area; and a section forrecording the disc definition structure into a predetermined position inthe unrecorded disc management working area neighboring the border. 3.An information reproduction apparatus for reproducing information from awrite-once read-many information recording medium according to claim 1,the information reproduction apparatus comprising: a section forreproducing the latest disc definition structure; and a section forreproducing the latest disc management information based on the latestdisc definition structure.